Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Zhangye?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zhangye or Kunming?
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 Kunming. 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 Kunming?
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.
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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangye $85Kunming $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangye is $85, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $67. 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 Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangye $38Kunming $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangye $76Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Zhangye and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Zhangye 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.Zhangye $38Kunming $13
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
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$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Private Arrival Transfer:Railway Station to City Hotel: $22
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $22
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
- One way Kunming airport to hotel private transfer: $41
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangye or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming 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 $25Kunming $22
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: $65
- Half Day Private Tour of Kunming Flower Market and Flower Pastry Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangye $10Kunming $18
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 Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- One day Kunming leisure city tour: $70
- Half Day Kunming History Tour: $80
- Half-Day History Tour in Kunming: $82
- Private Night Tour to Enjoy Dynamic Yunnan Show: $86
- Half Day Flower Tour in Kunming: $91
- Morning Market Tour - Eat like a local: $93
- Stone Forest Day Tour: $106
- Private Day Tour of Jiuxiang Cave from Yunnan: $109
- 4-Hour Tea-tasting and Cha Guo Zi (茶果子）Experience Tour: $112
- 1-Day Civil Culture Tour in Kunming: $112
- 1 day Kunming Highlights Mini Group tour: $114
- One day Stone Forest and Nuohei Yi Village Tour: $114
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangye $6.91Kunming $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangye and Kunming, we can see that Zhangye is more expensive. And not only is Kunming much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kunming would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kunming 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 Zhangye would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zhangye than you might in Kunming.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zhangye Expensive? and Is Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangye or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Zhangye. When comparing the sizes of Zhangye 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.