Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Yichang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Yichang or Lake Tekapo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yichang or Lake Tekapo, 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 Lake Tekapo?
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!
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
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 Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYichang $58Lake Tekapo $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Yichang is $58, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $75. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYichang $24Lake Tekapo $59
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYichang $48Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Yichang and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Yichang or Lake Tekapo? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yichang $14Lake Tekapo -
Is it cheaper to fly into Yichang or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 dayYichang $21Lake Tekapo $13
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yichang $18Lake Tekapo -
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 Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Indoor Māori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $30
- Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $31
- Dark Sky Virtual Stargazing Experience: $41
- 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $43
- High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $59
- Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $59
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $60
- 中文观星团 Chinese tour: $65
- Stargazing Experience: $65
- Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $85
- From Tekapo: Mt Cook day tour via Pukaki, Tasman Glacier: $100
- Summit Experience - University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory: $115
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayYichang $14Lake Tekapo -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yichang and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yichang or Lake Tekapo?
Yichang has a larger population, and is about 1440 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Yichang and Lake Tekapo, 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.