Which place is cheaper, Dali or Nha Trang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Nha Trang or Dali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Nha Trang and Dali. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Nha Trang or Dali?
Nha Trang
For the relaxation of a small beach town, plus the energy of a young city, consider Nha Trang, Vietnam. As the most famous seaside town in Vietnam, Nha Trang is certainly livelier than many other beach resort towns. Visiting this part of Vietnam is not for the faint of heart. These people know the meaning of nightlife - and make the night last as long as they can.
Dali
Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Nha Trang Prices
Vietnam PricesDali Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNha Trang $48Dali $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Nha Trang is $48, while the average daily cost in Dali is $62. 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 Nha Trang and Dali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNha Trang $13Dali $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNha Trang $26Dali $34
Compare Hotels in Nha Trang and Dali
Looking for a hotel in Nha Trang or Dali? 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: Nha Trang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nha Trang $13Dali $9.34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nha Trang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Nha Trang:
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Local Bus Ticket$0.11
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Taxi From Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nha Trang
Also for Nha Trang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cam Ranh APT-HTL (CXR): $14
- Private transfer from Nha Trang to Mui Ne by car 7 seater: $99
- Private Transfer: Nha Trang Train Station to/from Hotel in Nha Trang: $17
- Private Transfer: Nha Trang City Center to Tuy Hoa City Center: $127
- Private Transfer: Nha Trang City Center to Da Lat City Center: $114
- Private Transfer: Nha Trang City Center to Cau Da/Vinpearl Port: $17
- Private Transfer: Nha Trang Airport to/from City Center Hotels: $20
- Private Transfer: Cam Ranh Airport - Nha Trang outskirt: $20
- Private Transfer from or to Cam Ranh Airport and Nha Trang City: $20
- Private Transfer from Nha Trang to Lien Khuong (DLI) Airport: $116
- Private Transfer from Nha Trang city to Nha Trang Cruise Port: $69
- Private Transfer from Nha Trang Port to Nha Trang Airport (CXR): $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:
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Local Bus$0.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali
Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG): $149
- Dali Airport Chauffeur Service, Private Dali Airport Transfer: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Nha Trang or Dali?
Prices for flights to both Dali and Nha Trang 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 dayNha Trang $25Dali $32
Typical Food Prices in Nha Trang
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Nha Trang:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nha Trang
For Nha Trang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Nha Trang Private Authentic Sunset River Cruise for a nice dinner: $78
- Nha Trang Special Sunset River Cruise for sightseeing and nice dinner: $82
- Nha Trang Sunset Cocktails and Dinner Cruise: $90
- Nha Trang Sunset Cocktails and Dinner Cruise: $90
- Private Half-Day Cooking Class in Nha Trang with Pick Up: $97
- Nha Trang Sunset and Dinner on Cruise: $180
- Nha Trang Romantic dinner in a rice paddy field night tour: $231
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$4.49
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Breakfast$3.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali
For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cangshan Mountain hike and organic homemade dinner: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nha Trang $9.03Dali $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nha Trang
For Nha Trang, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Po Ngar Cham Entrance (for Two)$1.21
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Two Rental Lounge Chairs on Beach$2.65
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Vinpearl Land Amusement Park$17
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Fairy Spring Waterfall Entrance$0.38
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Thap Ba Mud Bath$3.79
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Cyclo Tour of City (One Day)$9.48
Tours and Activities in Nha Trang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nha Trang.
- Day Cruise Exploring Nha Trang Bay｜Nha Trang: $98
- I-Resort Hot Springs and Spa Packages Ticket Nha Trang: $14
- NHATRANG Adventure & Country Tour by Vintage JEEP/Modern SUV: $75
- Nha Trang 3 Island Private Tour: $47
- Nha Trang Beach Tour by Bus and Water: $93
- 2 Day Car Tour Excursion Dalat and Mui Ne (Minimum 4 guest): $170
- 2 Day Motorbike Adventure from Nha Trang to Da Lat: $159
- 2 Days Daklak Highland Tour From Nha Trang Included Hotel And Meals: $295
- 2 Days Private Guided Tour to Mui Ne from Nha Trang Included Lunch: $195
- 3 Hour Pedicab City Tour Nha Trang: $75
- 3 Islands Tour of Nha Trang: $55
- 3-Day Motorbike Adventure from Nha Trang to Da Lat - Easy Rider: $241
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Day Dali Erhai Sightseeing Tour: $250
- 1-Day Dali Tie Dye Experience Private Tour: $230
- 1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195
- 2-Days Self-Guided tour from Dali to Lijiang and overnight in Shaxi old town: $205
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Dali: $213
- Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $72
- Dali Day Tour: Scenic Lakes, Bai Heritage & Tie-Dye Workshop: $262
- Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
- Dali XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $87
- Dali Yunnan Local Market Pottery Making Eco Tour: $197
- Ancient City, Three Pagodas, and Longkan (ErHai) Tour: $85
- Donglianhua (East Lotus) & Hui Muslim Culture Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNha Trang $18Dali $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nha Trang and Dali, we can see that Dali is more expensive. And not only is Nha Trang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nha Trang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nha Trang 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 Dali would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dali than you might in Nha Trang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nha Trang Expensive? and Is Dali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nha Trang or Dali?
Nha Trang has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Nha Trang and Dali, 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.