A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zhangye vs. Nelson for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zhangye or Nelson?

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 Nelson. 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 Nelson?

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.

Nelson

Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Zhangye?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangye is $85, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $94. 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 Nelson in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zhangye $38
    Nelson $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zhangye $76
    Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Zhangye and Nelson

Looking for a hotel in Zhangye or Nelson? 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 Zhangye


Hotels in Nelson


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: Nelson Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zhangye $38
    Nelson $28

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangye or Nelson?

Prices for flights to both Nelson 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Zhangye $25
    Nelson $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zhangye $10
    Nelson $24

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

Tours and Activities in Nelson

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

  • Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $65
  • SKYWIRE Experience: $67
  • Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $71
  • Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $72
  • Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $75
  • Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
  • Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
  • Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $80
  • Spooners Tunnel to Nelson One Day Cycle Self Guided Tour: $82
  • Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $121

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zhangye $6.90
    Nelson $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:

  • Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $97


When comparing the travel costs between Zhangye and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Zhangye or Nelson?

Zhangye has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Zhangye and Nelson, 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.