A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nanjing vs. Lake Tekapo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nanjing or Lake Tekapo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Nanjing or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo?

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.

Lake Tekapo

Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Nanjing?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $118, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $84. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nanjing $47
    Lake Tekapo $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nanjing $94
    Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Lake Tekapo

Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Lake Tekapo? 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.

Hotels in Nanjing


Hotels in Lake Tekapo


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: Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nanjing $39
    Lake Tekapo -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:

  • Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $45
  • Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $91
  • Nanjing Downtown hotels to Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
  • Nanjing Lukou Airport Chauffeur Service, Nanjing Airport Transfer, Pickup: $30
  • Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $47
  • Nanjing Lukou International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $45
  • Nanjing Private Round Trip Transfer to Niushoushan Cultural Park: $67
  • Nanjing Private Transfer from Nanjing Lukou Airport (NKG) to central Nanjing: $125
  • Nanjing Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $35
  • Nanjing To Huangshan Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfers: $129
  • Nanjing to Hangzhou Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $52
  • Nanjing to Shanghai Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Nanjing or Lake Tekapo?

Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 day
    Nanjing $49
    Lake Tekapo $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.

  • 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
  • Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
  • Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nanjing $9.41
    Lake Tekapo -

Tours and Activities in Nanjing

Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Qixia Mountain Ticket for Adult: $20
  • Night Cruise on Outer Qinhuai River for Adults: $20
  • Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
  • Nanjing Self-Guided Day Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $72
  • Nanjing Private English Tour Guide Service: $75
  • Private Amazing Nanjing City Day Tour in Your Way: $75
  • Nanjing Professional English Tour Guide Service: $91
  • 3-Hour Local Food Tasting Tour: $93
  • Nanjing Private Day Tour With Must-Visit Attractions: $100
  • Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
  • 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
  • 6-Hour Private Tour of Xiaoling Tomb,City Wall & Memorial Hall : $115

Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo

Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Indoor Māori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $34
  • Dark Sky Indoor Maori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $36
  • Virtual Stargazing and Astronomy Experience: $52
  • Virtual Stargazing & Astronomy Experience in Lake Tekapo: $54
  • Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $57
  • Silver River Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $59
  • Mt. Hay Farm Experience Genuine Country Farming(Carbon Positive): $59
  • Stargazing Experience: $70
  • Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $71
  • Stargazing Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $75
  • Stargazing Experience at Cowan's Private Observatory: $79
  • Lake Tekapo High Country Farm Tour (Carbon Positive): $86

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nanjing $9.61
    Lake Tekapo -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nanjing and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Nanjing is more expensive. And not only is Lake Tekapo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nanjing is in Asia and Lake Tekapo is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Lake Tekapo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nanjing Expensive? and Is Lake Tekapo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nanjing or Lake Tekapo?

Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 9350 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing and Lake Tekapo, 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.