Which place is cheaper, Alice Springs or Zhangye?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zhangye or Alice Springs?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zhangye and Alice Springs. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Zhangye or Alice Springs?
Zhangye
Zhangye, China is a city in the Gansu Province in the central north part of the country, close to Mongolia. This ancient city has often been used as a military strong hold, having been the headquarters of General Huo among many others. Zhangye is a fabulous day trip city to visit when staying in larger nearby cities.
Zhangye is privy to beautiful summer weather, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70's Fahrenheit. The best times to visit are between July and September, when temperatures and sunshine are at their highest. Autumn, Winter, and Spring tend to be a little chillier and rainier.
Alice Springs
Alice Springs is in the middle of Central Australia and is most famous as a base for exploring the famous rock, Uluru. Alice Springs itself has grown dramatically from what was once a small outpost. The tourist boom began in the early 1980s and the population is now somewhere around 28,000. The city now has all of the necessary facilities to cater to the influx of tourists who swing through to see Uluru. The town is 1500km from Darwin, which is the closest major city. Adelaide is just as far to the south. It's remote location means that costs can be higher than they are elsewhere in Australia. Expect to pay more for anything from fruits and vegetables to clothing and souvenirs. When making a reservation for a hotel, do note that the rating scale differs from elsewhere in Australia or in most western countries. The ratings come from the amenities available and have little to do with the actual room quality.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangye $85Alice Springs $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangye is $85, while the average daily cost in Alice Springs is $95. 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 Zhangye and Alice Springs in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangye $38Alice Springs $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangye $76Alice Springs $100
Compare Hotels in Zhangye and Alice Springs
Looking for a hotel in Zhangye or Alice Springs? 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: Alice Springs Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zhangye $38Alice Springs $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangye
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhangye:
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Hotel to Zhangye Airport (YZY): $59
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Airport (YZY) to Zhangye Hotel: $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alice Springs
Also for Alice Springs, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Uluru to Alice Springs or Alice to Uluru 1-Way Luxe Transfer: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangye or Alice Springs?
Prices for flights to both Alice Springs and Zhangye 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 dayZhangye $25Alice Springs $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alice Springs
For Alice Springs, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From Day Trip to Uluru with BBQ Dinner: $219
- Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs Including BBQ Dinner: $233
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangye $10Alice Springs $14
Tours and Activities in Zhangye
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zhangye are as follows:
- Private day tour to Zhangye Danxia Landform the Rainbow Mountain: $150
- Private Day Tour: Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform: $299
- Private Hiking Tour: Binggou Danxia and Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Zhangye: $299
- Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes: $235
- Private day tour to Zhangye Mati temple & Giant Buddha Temple start from Zhangye: $155
- Zhangye Danxia Half Day tour: $195
- Zhangye One Day City Tour: $77
- Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Private Day Tour: $214
Tours and Activities in Alice Springs
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Alice Springs.
- Skip the Line: Alice Springs School of the Air Guided Tour Ticket: $9.25
- West MacDonnell Ranges: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $9.99
- Outback Adventure: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $9.99
- Australia’s Red Centre: A Self-Guided West Macs Driving Tour: $9.99
- Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket: $26
- Alice Springs Desert Park Nocturnal Tour: $28
- Alice Springs Camel Tour: $59
- West MacDonnell Ranges Half day Tour -Small Group: $92
- A Town Like Alice: Half-Day Tour of Alice Springs: $95
- From Alice Spring: West MacDonnell Ranges Half-Day Tour: $97
- Alice Springs Highlights Tour : $109
- Historical Alice Tour: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangye $6.90Alice Springs $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Alice Springs
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Alice Springs:
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Glass of Wine in Alice Springs$4.54
When comparing the travel costs between Zhangye and Alice Springs, we can see that Alice Springs 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. Even though Zhangye is in Asia and Alice Springs is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zhangye Expensive? and Is Alice Springs Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangye or Alice Springs?
Zhangye has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Alice Springs. When comparing the sizes of Zhangye and Alice Springs, 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.