Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Yangshuo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Yangshuo or Kunming?
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 Kunming can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Yangshuo or Kunming?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYangshuo $73Kunming $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Yangshuo is $73, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $69. 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 Yangshuo and Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYangshuo $26Kunming $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYangshuo $52Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Yangshuo and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Yangshuo 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.
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.Yangshuo $43Kunming $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangshuo
Also for Yangshuo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Longsheng hotel: $107
- Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Between Airport & Yangshuo: $106
- Private Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Show with Hotel Transfer: $88
- Impression Liu Sanjie - Ticket Booking (including Round-trip Transfer): $75
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Xingping hotel: $67
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Guilin hotel: $64
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Yangshuo hotel: $56
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo Train Station to Yangshuo Hotel: $48
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Guilin hotel: $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- One way Kunming airport to hotel private transfer: $41
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Yangshuo or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming 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
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Food Meals for one dayYangshuo $19Kunming $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangshuo
For Yangshuo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Yangshuo Full Day Tour: Cooking class, River boat, Light Show: $259
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kunming evening food tour with locals: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yangshuo $24Kunming $19
Tours and Activities in Yangshuo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Yangshuo.
- Yangshuo Helicopter Tour from Yangshuo hotel: $170
- 1 Day - Yangshuo Bike Tour: $80
- 1-Day Guilin City Tour and Ends of Longji Rice Terraces from Yangshuo: $218
- 1-Day Guilin City Tour with the Daxu Town and Yao Mountain from Yangshuo: $187
- 1-Day Longji Rice Terraces hiking tour from Guilin/Yangshuo hotel: $188
- 1-Day Tour: Yangshuo Yulong Bamboo Boat and Ruyi Peak Cable Car: $149
- 2 Day - Longji Rice Terraces - Sunrise Hiking Tour: $280
- 4-Hour Small Group Rock Climbing Tour in Yangshuo: $61
- All Inclusive Private Hiking Tour in Yangshuo: $84
- China:Classic China Sightseeing Tour: $3,699
- Dingding Yangshuo country road biking tour &bamboom rafting: $120
- Full-Day Li-River Tour from Yangshuo to Yangdi With the English Speaking Driver: $159
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
- Kunming Private Day Tour to Jiuxiang Cave with Boat Ride : $209
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $196
- 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
- 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
- 1-Day Kunming tour with the West Hill,Dragon Gate and Bamboo Temple: $222
- Classical Yunnan 8days highlights tour start from Kunming: $1,395
- Essences of Kunming Downtown Day Tour: $129
- Full Day Private Kunming Sedan Chair Snow Mountain Tour: $130
- Full-Day Private Tour to Fuxian Lake from Kunming with Lunch: $188
- Half Day Flower Tour in Kunming: $91
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYangshuo $34Kunming $18
When comparing the travel costs between Yangshuo and Kunming, we can see that Yangshuo 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yangshuo Expensive? and Is Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yangshuo or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Yangshuo. When comparing the sizes of Yangshuo and 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 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.