Which place is cheaper, Datong or Taiyuan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Taiyuan or Datong?
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 Taiyuan and Datong. 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: Taiyuan or Datong?
Taiyuan
With sleek architectural designs and blossoming businesses, this metropolis is simply brimming with invigorating excitement and once-in-a-lifetime entertainment. Despite its glimmering skyscrapers and gorgeous fountains, Taiyuan, China has an extensive history of nearly 2,500 years. During ancient China, Taiyuan, or the "Dragon City," was a major military town. Presently, this city is now one of China's most important industrial cities, producing more than half of the national coal mining output. Taiyuan is both the capital and largest city of the Shanxi province of North China. It is bounded by mountains on three of its sides, allowing this great city to be surrounded by fantastic views of its landscape. Besides its economic significance, Taiyuan also achieves tourist significance due to its plethora of landmarks and sights. Some of these attractions include Jinci Temple, Forest Park, Mengshan Giant Buddha, and Shanxi Museum. Taiyuan is also celebrated internationally for holding their annual Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Arts Festival, a celebration held in September that hosts exhibition of fine arts, painting, paper-cutting, sculpture, drama, acrobatic and the culture of costume. With such a great deal to do in such a limited window of time, it is best to make the most Taiyuan while you visit!
Datong
If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaiyuan $90Datong $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Taiyuan is $90, while the average daily cost in Datong is $56. 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 Taiyuan and Datong in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaiyuan $42Datong $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaiyuan $84Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Taiyuan and Datong
Looking for a hotel in Taiyuan or Datong? 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.Taiyuan $47Datong $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Flexible Private Transfer Service from Datong to Pingyao with Sightseeing Stops: $225
- Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
- Private Round-Trip Transfer to Hanging Temple: $98
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Taiyuan or Datong?
Prices for flights to both Datong and Taiyuan 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 dayTaiyuan $20Datong $20
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taiyuan $15Datong $25
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- 1-Day Private Tour: Datong Highlights with the Lunch: $215
- 2-Day Private Datong Tour:Hanging Temple, Yugang Grottoes,Wooden Pagoda and More: $298
- 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
- All Inclusive Datong Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes : $268
- All Inclusive Datong Private Tour to Hanging Temple and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: $238
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong : $188
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour to Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
- All-Inclusive Private Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
- Datong Classic Day Tour: $135
- Datong Day Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple: $203
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
- Datong Highlights Sightseeing: Hanging Monastery and Wooden Pagoda: $244
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaiyuan $6.31Datong $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taiyuan and Datong, we can see that Taiyuan is more expensive. And not only is Datong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Datong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Datong 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 Taiyuan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taiyuan than you might in Datong.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taiyuan Expensive? and Is Datong Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taiyuan or Datong?
Taiyuan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Datong. When comparing the sizes of Taiyuan and Datong, 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.