Which place is cheaper, Dali or Tianjin?
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 Tianjin or Dali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin or Dali? 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: Tianjin or Dali?
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.
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Tianjin Prices
China PricesDali Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $91Dali $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $91, 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 Tianjin and Dali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $35Dali $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $70Dali $34
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Dali
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tianjin $37Dali $9.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $112
- Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
- Tianjin Port Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $192
- Tianjin Port Pick-up and Beijing Hotel Drip-off Transfer with Private Driver : $155
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer from City Hotels: $80
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $95
- Tianjin Cruise Port Transfer To Tianjin Airport one way private transfer: $50
- Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Binhai Railway Station: $32
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Tianjin Binhai Airport(TSN) to Beijing - Arrival Private Transfer: $118
- Tianjin Airport pickup, Tianjin Airport -Beijing private transfer: $14
- Private Transfer: Tianjin Xingang International Cruise Home Port to Beijing Hotel: $88
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 Tianjin or Dali?
Prices for flights to both Dali and Tianjin 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 dayTianjin $35Dali $31
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$4.46
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Breakfast$3.48
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.Tianjin $10Dali $18
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Private Tour to Uncover Tianjin’s Must-Visit Bucket-List Spots : $248
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion Private Shopping Tour: $120
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Porcelain House with Bullet Train Experience: $240
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
- All-inclusive Tianjin Day Tour to Qing Emperor's Tomb & Huangyaguan Great Wall : $278
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
- Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265
- Private Beijing Custom Day Tour from Tianjin City by Bullet Train: $278
- Private Great Wall Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $248
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
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 tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195
- 1-Day Erhai Sightseeing in Dali: $129
- 1-Day Tie Dye Experience Tour in Dali: $160
- 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 Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
- Dali XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $89
- Dali Yunnan Local Market Pottery Making Eco Tour: $197
- Xizhou Ancient Town and Dali Ancient City Tour: $101
- Zhoucheng Village Tie-Dyeing Experience Private Tour: $89
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTianjin $11Dali $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Dali, we can see that Tianjin is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali 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 Tianjin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tianjin than you might in Dali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Dali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Dali?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin 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.