A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yichang vs. Kaikoura for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Yichang or Kaikoura?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yichang or Kaikoura, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Yichang or Kaikoura?

Yichang

Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.

Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Kaikoura or Yichang?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Yichang is $58, while the average daily cost in Kaikoura is $135. 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 Yichang and Kaikoura in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yichang $24
    Kaikoura $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yichang $48
    Kaikoura $96
Compare Hotels in Yichang and Kaikoura

Looking for a hotel in Yichang or Kaikoura? 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 Yichang


Hotels in Kaikoura


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: Kaikoura Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yichang $14
    Kaikoura $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Yichang or Kaikoura?

Prices for flights to both Kaikoura and Yichang 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
    Yichang $21
    Kaikoura $38

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yichang $18
    Kaikoura $152

Tours and Activities in Yichang

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

  • Yichang Tourist Center to Yichang Sanxia Airport (YIH): $53
  • Private Tour: Essence of Yichang Day Tour: $165
  • Private Day Tour in Yichang to Sanyou Cave and Sanxia Waterfall : $239
  • Yichang hotel/Sanxia Tourist Center/Maoping pier to Zhangjiajie: $290
  • From Yichang to Chongqing: 5-Day Cruise with Meals: $761

Tours and Activities in Kaikoura

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

  • Seal-Watching Pedal Kayak Tour: $71
  • Sunset Kayak tour in Kaikoura: $72
  • Seal Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura: $72
  • Llama Trek (Taster) - Kowhai River Valley and Native Woodland Tour: $81
  • Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $89
  • Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $89
  • Wildlife Kayaking Tour at Sunset: $89
  • Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $90
  • Sunset Evening Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $91
  • Kaikōura: Zipline and Native Forest Adventure Trip: $94
  • Half Day Zipline Adventure in Kaikoura: $97
  • Whale Watching Cruise: $98

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yichang $14
    Kaikoura -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yichang and Kaikoura, we can see that Kaikoura is more expensive. And not only is Yichang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Yichang is in Asia and Kaikoura 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 Yichang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yichang 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 Kaikoura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaikoura than you might in Yichang.

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


Which is Bigger, Yichang or Kaikoura?

Yichang has a larger population, and is about 700 times larger than the population of Kaikoura. When comparing the sizes of Yichang and Kaikoura, 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.