A Travel Price Comparison for China Xigatse vs. Kunming for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Xigatse or Kunming?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xigatse and Kunming can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Xigatse or Kunming?

Xigatse

The second largest city in Tibet behind Lhasa, Xigatse, commonly known as Shigatse, is home to sights and attractions like the Tashilhunpo Monastery, plenty of markets, and the ruins of Shigatse temple. All places of interest are fairly walkable, though auto-rickshaws are also available.

Kunming

Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.

Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Xigatse?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Xigatse is $61, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $67. 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 Xigatse and Kunming in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Xigatse $28
    Kunming $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Xigatse $56
    Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Xigatse and Kunming

Looking for a hotel in Xigatse or Kunming? 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 Xigatse


Hotels in Kunming


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Xigatse $12
    Kunming $13

Typical Local Transportation prices in Kunming

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming

Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
  • Arrival Private Transfer Kunming Airport KMG to Kunming City by Executive Sedan: $95
  • Departure Private Transfer Kunming City to Kunming Airport KMG by Executive Car: $95
  • Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
  • Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
  • Arrival Private Transfer Kunming Changshui Airport KMG to Kunming City by Van: $80
  • Departure Private Transfer Kunming City to Kunming Changshui Airport KMG by Van: $80
  • Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
  • Departure Private Transfer Kunming City to Kunming Airport KMG by Standard Sedan: $62
  • Arrival Private Transfer Kunming Airport KMG to Kunming City by Standard Sedan: $62
  • Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
  • One way Kunming airport to hotel private transfer: $41

Is it cheaper to fly into Xigatse or Kunming?

Prices for flights to both Kunming and Xigatse 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
    Xigatse $24
    Kunming $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming

For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Half-day Kunming Street Food Tour: $93
  • Half Day Private Tour of Kunming Flower Market and Flower Pastry Cooking Class: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Xigatse $14
    Kunming $18

Tours and Activities in Kunming

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.

  • 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
  • 1-Day Stone Forest Geological Park Private Tour with the Lunch from Kunming: $201
  • 10-Day Private Tour from Kunming with Guizhou and Zhangjiajie: $2,296
  • Kunming Private Day Tour to Jiuxiang Cave with Boat Ride : $209
  • 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $196
  • 1 day Kunming Highlights Mini Group tour: $114
  • 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
  • 1-Day Civil Culture Tour in Kunming: $112
  • 1-Day Dali tour from Kunming by Round-way Bullet Train: $338
  • 1-Day Dinosaur Tour in Kunming: $144
  • 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
  • 1-Day Kunming Culture Tour: $156

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Xigatse $3.15
    Kunming $17


When comparing the travel costs between Xigatse and Kunming, we can see that Kunming is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

Which is Bigger, Xigatse or Kunming?

Kunming is bigger, and its population is about 12.8 times larger than the population of Xigatse. When comparing the population of Xigatse vs. Kunming, 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 and the activities 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.
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Xigatse vs. Kunming Travel Comparison

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