A Travel Price Comparison for China Yangshuo vs. Dali for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Yangshuo or Dali?

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 Yangshuo and Dali can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Yangshuo or Dali?

Yangshuo

A county of the city, Guilin, Yangshuo is located in a region famous for its karst topography. Surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River, Yangshuo has become a popular home base for tourists looking to explore the region's natural wonders. Backpackers and tourists, both foreign and domestic, come to Yangshuo every year making it a city of many cultures. Most locals are even able to speak English, which is fairly uncommon for Chinese cities.

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 Yangshuo?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Yangshuo is $60, while the average daily cost in Dali is $40. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Yangshuo and Dali in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yangshuo $21
    Dali $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yangshuo $42
    Dali $28
Compare Hotels in Yangshuo and Dali

Looking for a hotel in Yangshuo 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.

Hotels in Yangshuo


Hotels in Dali


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: Yangshuo Hotel Prices and Dali Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yangshuo $36
    Dali $7.72

Typical Local Transportation prices in Dali

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:


  • Local Bus
    $0.43

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: $150
  • Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel: $140
  • Private One Way Transfer to Lijiang from Dali: $96
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Shaxi Ancient Town from Dali: $88
  • Dali Airport Chauffeur Service,Dali Airport Transfer: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Yangshuo or Dali?

Prices for flights to both Dali and Yangshuo 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
    Yangshuo $16
    Dali $15

Typical Food prices in Dali

For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $4.63
  • Breakfast
    $3.62

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali

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

  • 1-Day Dali Baba Cooking and Cruise Tour: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yangshuo $20
    Dali $15

Tours and Activities in Yangshuo

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

  • Xingping Li River Fisherman Show and Sunset Private Tour: $147

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 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
  • 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
  • 1-day Dali Classic Tour: $247

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yangshuo $28
    Dali $9.27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yangshuo and Dali, we can see that Yangshuo 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 Yangshuo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yangshuo than you might in Dali.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.

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Yangshuo vs. Dali Travel Comparison

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