A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Wuyuan vs. Katoomba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wuyuan or Katoomba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Wuyuan and Katoomba can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Wuyuan or Katoomba?

Wuyuan

Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Wuyuan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Wuyuan is $73, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $148. 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 Wuyuan and Katoomba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wuyuan $26
    Katoomba $78
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wuyuan $52
    Katoomba $156
Compare Hotels in Wuyuan and Katoomba

Looking for a hotel in Wuyuan or Katoomba? 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.

Hotels in Wuyuan


Hotels in Katoomba


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: Katoomba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wuyuan $13
    Katoomba $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Wuyuan or Katoomba?

Prices for flights to both Katoomba and Wuyuan 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Wuyuan $35
    Katoomba $30
Typical Food Prices in Wuyuan

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wuyuan:


  • Gummy Candy
    $0.28
  • Cookies
    $0.70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wuyuan $19
    Katoomba $54

Tours and Activities in Katoomba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:

  • Blue Mountains Day Tour with Wildlife and Scenic World: $101
  • Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $100
  • Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $66
  • Beauty of the Blue Mountains Private Tour: $853
  • Blue Labyrinth PRIVATE Tour: Sydney Blue Mountains by E-Bike : $251
  • Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $109
  • Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $99
  • Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $65
  • Blue Mountains Day Tour With Bushwalks, Waterfalls & Featherdale: $126
  • Blue Mountains Day Tour with Scenic World and Wildlife Park Entry: $118
  • Blue Mountains Full Day Guided Tour : $221
  • Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $73

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wuyuan $14
    Katoomba -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wuyuan and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Wuyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wuyuan is in Asia and Katoomba is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Wuyuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wuyuan 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba than you might in Wuyuan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wuyuan Expensive? and Is Katoomba Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Wuyuan or Katoomba?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Katoomba is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Wuyuan has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Wuyuan or Katoomba in the Summer?

Both Katoomba and Wuyuan during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Katoomba for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Wuyuan is generally a little warmer than Katoombain January. Daily temperatures in Wuyuan average around 30°C (85°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

Katoomba gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Wuyuan. Wuyuan usually gets more rain in July than Katoombain January. Wuyuan gets 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Wuyuan 30°C (85°F) 
    Katoomba 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit Wuyuan or Katoomba in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wuyuan and Katoomba. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Katoomba because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Wuyuan is around the same temperature as Katoomba in the autumn. The daily temperature in Wuyuan averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F)in April.

In October, Wuyuan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Katoombain April. Wuyuan gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Wuyuan 20°C (68°F) 
    Katoomba 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Wuyuan or Katoomba in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Wuyuan as well as Katoomba. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

In the winter, Wuyuan is much colder than Katoomba. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wuyuan in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Katoomba averages at about 11°C (51°F)in July.

Wuyuan usually gets more rain in January than Katoombain July. Wuyuan gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Wuyuan 6°C (43°F) 
    Katoomba 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Wuyuan or Katoomba in the Spring?

Both Katoomba and Wuyuan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Katoomba for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Wuyuan is generally around the same temperature as Katoombain October. Daily temperatures in Wuyuan average around 18°C (64°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite rainy in Wuyuan. In April, Wuyuan usually receives more rain than Katoombain October. Wuyuan gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Wuyuan 18°C (64°F) 
    Katoomba 18°C (64°F)

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Wuyuan

Wuyuan Katoomba
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 6°C (43°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 24°C (74°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Feb 8°C (46°F) 123 mm (4.9 in) 23°C (74°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 174 mm (6.8 in) 22°C (71°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Apr 18°C (64°F) 238 mm (9.4 in) 18°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
May 23°C (73°F) 257 mm (10.1 in) 14°C (58°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 26°C (79°F) 270 mm (10.6 in) 12°C (53°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 30°C (85°F) 192 mm (7.6 in) 11°C (51°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Aug 30°C (85°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 12°C (54°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Sep 26°C (78°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 42 mm (1.6 in)
Oct 20°C (68°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 18°C (64°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Nov 14°C (57°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Dec 8°C (47°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 23°C (73°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)