Which place is cheaper, Koyasan or Zhangye?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zhangye or Koyasan?
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 Koyasan. 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 Koyasan?
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.
Koyasan
Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, and The Best Historical Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangye $85Koyasan $78
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangye is $85, while the average daily cost in Koyasan is $78. 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 Koyasan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangye $38Koyasan $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangye $76Koyasan $78
Compare Hotels in Zhangye and Koyasan
Looking for a hotel in Zhangye or Koyasan? 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: Koyasan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zhangye $38Koyasan $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangye
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhangye:
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Airport (YZY) to Zhangye Hotel: $59
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Hotel to Zhangye Airport (YZY): $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangye or Koyasan?
Prices for flights to both Koyasan 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 $25Koyasan $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangye $10Koyasan $13
Tours and Activities in Zhangye
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zhangye are as follows:
- Zhangye One Day City Tour: $77
- Private day tour to Zhangye Danxia Landform the Rainbow Mountain: $150
- Private day tour to Zhangye Mati temple & Giant Buddha Temple start from Zhangye: $155
- Zhangye Danxia Half Day tour: $195
- Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Private Day Tour: $214
- Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes: $235
- Private Day Tour: Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform: $299
- Private Hiking Tour: Binggou Danxia and Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Zhangye: $299
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangye $6.90Koyasan $4.89
When comparing the travel costs between Zhangye and Koyasan, we can see that Zhangye 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 Zhangye Expensive? and Is Koyasan Expensive?.
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.