Should you visit Tianjin or Dali?
Should I visit Tianjin or Dali? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Dali or Tianjin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $69, while the average daily cost in Dali is $44. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Tianjin and Dali in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $62 in Tianjin For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $30 in Dali For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Tianjin travelers spend around $18 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
The average traveler spends about $16 per day in Dali for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Tianjin $18
Dali $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tianjin
For Tianjin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Chengdu Private Food Tour (With Visit to Kuanzhai Alley and Hotpot Experience):
$32
-
Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Sanxingdui Museum Private Day Tour with Hotpot Dinner:
$76
-
Dim Sum Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit in Shanghai:
$78
-
Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
-
Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
-
Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
Typical Food prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch
$5.01
-
Breakfast
$3.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali
For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Chengdu Private Food Tour (With Visit to Kuanzhai Alley and Hotpot Experience):
$32
-
Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Sanxingdui Museum Private Day Tour with Hotpot Dinner:
$76
-
Dim Sum Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit in Shanghai:
$78
-
Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
-
Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
-
Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
-
1-Day Dali Baba Cooking and Cruise Tour:
$150
Local Transportation
To get around in Tianjin, the average visitor spends $33 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Dali's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $8.35 per person, per day on transportation in Dali.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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[Up to 20% Off] Private City Transfers for Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing :
$23
-
[Up to 15% Off for Round Trip Transfers] Private Beijing Capital Airport Transfers (PEK) for Beijing :
$37
-
Yangshuo and Li River Highlights Day Tour with Transfers:
$111
-
Tianjin Round Trip Transfer to Chengde Summer Resort and Eight Outer Temples:
$216
-
Tianjin Railway Station Private Transfer to Cruise Port:
$59
-
Tianjin Railway Station Private Transfer from Cruise Port:
$59
-
Tianjin Private Transfer to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall:
$196
-
Tianjin Private Transfer from Tianjin central to Tianjin Binhai Airport (TSN):
$132
-
Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port:
$80
-
Tianjin Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Railway Station:
$80
-
Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall:
$112
-
Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Panshan:
$124
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dali
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali
Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private City Transfers between Zhongshan and Hong Kong:
$313
-
Private City Transfers between Foshan and Hong Kong:
$296
-
Private City Transfers between Guangzhou and Hong Kong:
$283
-
Private City Transfers between Huizhou and Hong Kong :
$230
-
Private MPV City Transfer between Guangdong & Hong Kong:
$187
-
Private Transfers Between Xiamen City and Gaobei Tulou Cluster & Chuxi Tulou Cluster:
$186
-
Private Changsha Huanghua International Airport Transfers (CSX) for Downtown Zhangjiajie or Wulingyuan District:
$186
-
Private Transfers between Dongguan and Hong Kong :
$159
-
Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town:
$150
-
Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster & Yun Shui Yao Ancient Town:
$147
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Private Transfers Between Xiamen City and Yongding Tulou:
$147
-
Private City Transfers Between Xiamen and Zhangzhou Volcanic Island Resort:
$147
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.
Entertainment
In Tianjin, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $9.31 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dali can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $16 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
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Lionsgate Entertainment World Ticket in Henqin Zhuhai :
$31
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1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port:
$235
-
1 Day Tianjin City Tour:
$195
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1-Day Tour:Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing City Highlights and back in a day:
$355
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1-Day Tour:Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall and back in a day:
$355
-
2 Days Beijing Group Tour from Tianjin Port without Shop/Factory Stops:
$276
-
2 Days Shanghai Private Tour:
$178
-
2 to 3hours shopping Tour at Tianjin Tanggu Foreign goods market by Car:
$118
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2-Day Beijing Private Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port:
$545
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2-Day Private Tianjin Sightseeing Tour including Huangyaguan Great Wall:
$446
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2-Day Private Tour of Qinhuangdao and Beidaihe from Tianjin:
$708
-
2D1N Mount Emei Monastery Cultural Tour:
$51
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Lionsgate Entertainment World Ticket in Henqin Zhuhai :
$31
-
1 Day Dali Tour to Weishan Old Town and Weibaoshan Mountain:
$200
-
1 Day Dali-Shaxi Ancient Town Tour:
$253
-
1 Day Golf Tour at Dali Stone Mountain Golf Club with Sightseeing:
$345
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1 Day Weishan Old Town Tour:
$195
-
1-Day Dali Cuisine and Cruise Tour:
$203
-
1-Day Dali Mountain and Cuisine Tour:
$150
-
1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas:
$195
-
1-Day Electric Bike Tour in Dali:
$160
-
1-Day Erhai Sightseeing in Dali:
$129
-
1-Day Liming Tour in Lijiang:
$252
-
1-Day Tie Dye Experience Tour in Dali:
$160
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Tianjin, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $10.
Typically, people visiting Dali spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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.
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