Which place is cheaper, Lijiang or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nanjing or Lijiang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nanjing or Lijiang? 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 Lijiang?
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.
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNanjing $95Lijiang $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $95, while the average daily cost in Lijiang is $41. 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 Lijiang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNanjing $46Lijiang $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNanjing $92Lijiang $30
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Lijiang
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Lijiang? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nanjing $38Lijiang $5.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- [Airport transfer] Nanjing Lukou International Airport ⇔ Nanjing city transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $27
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $80
- Tangshan Hot Spring Spa Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing City : $44
- Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $44
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou from Nanjing City Center: $89
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou City from Nanjing Lukou Airport : $109
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from City Hotels: $33
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $88
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing : $88
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Private Transfer Between Tangshan Hot Spring Resort and Nanjing Lukou Airport: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang and Stops at Shaxi: $161
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Dali and Stops at Shaxi: $161
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali : $149
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Nanjing or Lijiang?
Prices for flights to both Lijiang 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
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Food Meals for one dayNanjing $28Lijiang $17
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
- Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nanjing $9.23Lijiang $19
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 2-Day Unlimited Nanjing Private Flexible 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: Nanjing Jiming Temple, Ming City Wall, Xuanwu Lake: $147
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Sun Yatsen Mausoleum, Xiaoling Tomb and City Wall: $190
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
- All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $213
- All-Inclusive Nanjing Purple Mountain Scenic Area Private Day Tour: $187
- All-inclusive Customized Nanjing Layover Tour: $201
- Beijing Great Wall Tour from Nanjing by Bullet Train with Private Car Service: $282
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Land of wilderness （Howl's Moving Castle ）Ticket: $26
- Half-Day Private Tour Tiger Leaping Gorge in Lijiang : $106
- Private Tour: Jade Dragon Village and Baisha Village via Bicycle: $158
- Biking tour&guide visit Lijiang baisha village market park: $160
- One day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour in From Lijiang: $160
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1-Day Old Town Tour in Lijiang: $166
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- Lijiang Train Station Pick up and Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour : $170
- Private trekking tour to Wenhai lake from Lijiang half day service: $175
- Private Jade Dragon Snow Mountains and Naxi Village Tour: $187
- 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNanjing $9.43Lijiang $7.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nanjing and Lijiang, we can see that Nanjing is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Lijiang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nanjing Expensive? and Is Lijiang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nanjing or Lijiang?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Lijiang. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing and Lijiang, 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.