A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dali vs. Kamakura for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dali or Kamakura?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dali and Kamakura can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dali or Kamakura?

Dali

Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.

Kamakura

An old city center of medieval Japan, Kamakura sits today on the seaside just south of Tokyo. Due to its early beginnings, the city is dotted with Buddhist Zen temples and Shinto shrines. It has become a prominent resort town drawing visitors with its many historic landmarks as well as nearby beaches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Kamakura or Dali?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $62, while the average daily cost in Kamakura is $123. 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 Dali and Kamakura in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dali $17
    Kamakura $78
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dali $34
    Kamakura $156
Compare Hotels in Dali and Kamakura

Looking for a hotel in Dali or Kamakura? 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 Dali


Hotels in Kamakura


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: Kamakura Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dali $9.34
    Kamakura $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:


  • Local Bus
    $0.42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali

Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Dali Airport Chauffeur Service, Private Dali Airport Transfer: $40
  • Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG): $149
  • Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Kamakura?

Prices for flights to both Kamakura and Dali 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
    Dali $32
    Kamakura $36
Typical Food Prices in Dali

For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $4.49
  • Breakfast
    $3.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali

For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cangshan Mountain hike and organic homemade dinner: $80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kamakura

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kamakura.

  • Sushi Roll Bento Cooking Class: $59
  • Community Dinner with Locals: $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dali $18
    Kamakura $5.79

Tours and Activities in Dali

For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $71
  • Yunnan Dali Erhai 3 Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple One Day Tour: $74
  • Zhoucheng Village Tie Dyeing Private Experience: $87
  • Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $87
  • Dali XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $87
  • Shaxi Ancient Town Private Tour: $99
  • Private tour to Xizhou old town local market Erhai lake three Pagodas from Dali: $184
  • Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
  • Private hiking tour to Cangshan Mountain from Dali: $190
  • 1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195
  • Dali Yunnan Local Market Pottery Making Eco Tour: $197
  • 2-Days Self-Guided tour from Dali to Lijiang and overnight in Shaxi old town: $205

Tours and Activities in Kamakura

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

  • A Meditative Calligraphy Experience: $74
  • Authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience in Kamakura: $37
  • Calligraphy Experience in Kamakura: $88
  • From Daibutsu Hiking Trail Tour with Local Guide: $149
  • Kamakura (Ofuna) : Ramen Crawl Tour with a Local Guide: $51
  • Kamakura 6 hr Private Guided Tour & Kimono Experience: $159
  • Kamakura Half Day Tour with a Local Expert Guide: $91
  • Kamakura Historical Walking Tour with the Great Buddha: $107
  • Kamakura Private Custom Tour with Local Guide: $135
  • Kamakura Tour with Pro Photographer: Anime Train & Fuji view: $128
  • Kamakura Tour with Pro Photographer: Great Buddha & Hase: $202
  • Kamakura Tour with Pro Photographer: Tsurugaoka shrine: $196

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dali $11
    Kamakura $14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Kamakura, we can see that Kamakura is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali 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 Kamakura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kamakura than you might in Dali.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dali Expensive? and Is Kamakura Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dali or Kamakura?

Kamakura has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Dali and Kamakura, 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.