Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Nanjing or Kunming?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nanjing or Kunming? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Nanjing or Kunming?
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
-
Nanjing Prices
China PricesKunming Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNanjing $124Kunming $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $124, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $89. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nanjing and Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNanjing $49Kunming $35
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNanjing $98Kunming $70
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Kunming? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nanjing Hotel Prices and Kunming Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nanjing $41Kunming $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Private Day Tour: Nanjing City Highlights with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $285
- Nanjing Private Transfer from Nanjing Lukou Airport (NKG) to central Nanjing: $122
- Nanjing to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $120
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $109
- Nanjing Tangshan Hot Spring Spa Experience with Private Transfer: $103
- Private Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing City Center: $94
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
- Nanjing to Wuxi Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $88
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $88
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport: $80
- Zhenjiang Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport: $78
- Nanjing Private Round Trip Transfer to Niushoushan Cultural Park: $67
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
-
Taxi Ride$1.62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
- Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $88
- Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $88
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! : $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Nanjing or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming and Nanjing change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayNanjing $52Kunming $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- Shanghai Tang Dynasty Immersive Dinner Show: $86
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option: $112
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Discovery more Kunming evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Discovery More Kunming Evening Food Tour with Locals: $80
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nanjing $9.91Kunming $19
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Nanjing Private Flexible Customized Tour with Lunch Option: $295
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way: $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour with Xiaoling Tomb and Sun Yatsen Mausoleum: $124
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Sun Yatsen Mausoleum, Xiaoling Tomb and City Wall: $190
- 6-Hour Private Tour of Xiaoling Tomb,City Wall & Memorial Hall: $144
- All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
- All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $218
- All-inclusive Customized Nanjing Layover Tour: $201
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $160
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $150
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour: $63
- Flexible Private Nanjing Layover Tour: $171
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- Kunming City & Cultural Walking tour: $26
- Yunnan University & Culture Alley Guided Tour: $26
- Kunming Walking Tour Around Green Lake and University Quarter: $29
- Dynamic Yunnan Cultural Show Ticket in Kunming: $32
- Half Day Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary: $43
- Kunming City Tour with Private Guide: $44
- Stone Forest + Yiliang Roast Duck + Kunming City Private Tour: $60
- Yiliang Jiuxiang Scenic Area Private Tour: $64
- Kunming Western Hills Scenic Area Private Tour: $64
- Kunming Yunnan Ethnic Village Private Tour: $64
- Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary: $66
- Old Town Private Tour (Half Day): $66
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNanjing $10Kunming $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nanjing and Kunming, we can see that Nanjing is more expensive. And not only is Kunming much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kunming would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kunming and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing than you might in Kunming.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nanjing Expensive? and Is Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nanjing or Kunming?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kunming. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing and Kunming, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.