Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Guangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Guangzhou? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Darjiling or Guangzhou?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Darjiling Prices
India PricesGuangzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $43Guangzhou $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $43, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $104. 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 Darjiling and Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $12Guangzhou $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $24Guangzhou $116
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Guangzhou? 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.10Guangzhou $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $69
- Private Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Guangzhou Layover Visa-Free Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $194
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $176
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $170
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service, To Dongguan Transfer: $135
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
- Private Guided Guangzhou Pearl River Cruise Tour With Hotel Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou and Shenzhen City Area: $104
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou and Zhuhai City Area : $104
- Private Departure Transfer in English-speaking: Hotel to Airport: $99
- Private Arrival Transfer in English-speaking: Airport to Hotel: $99
- Guangzhou Night Pearl River Cruise VIP Seating with Private Transfer: $96
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $23Guangzhou $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Guangzhou Night Walking and Food Tour: Led by Local Cantonese: $82
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Yumcha and Local Food Market Explore: $153
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- 3-Hour Guangzhou Private Cooking Class with Local Market Visit : $165
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou: $179
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Morning Tea, Cantonese Opera, and Food Tour: $183
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $11Guangzhou $18
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $23
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $23
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $29
- Mirik Lake Day Tour From Darjeeling: $35
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $52
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $61
- Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $77
- Private Calcutta Tour With Guide and Authentic Bengali lunch: $83
- Mirik Lake Day tour: $85
- The Land Mark Tour (Nautical Day Darjeeling To Mirik crusade): $99
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Day Tour From Kaiping Garden, Watchtowers, and Chikan Old Town: $274
- Liuxihe National Forest Park Private Day Tour from Guangzhou: $266
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 1-Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private City Tour: $185
- 3-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King Tomb in Guangzhou: $91
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $180
- 4-Hour Flexible Private Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Options: $153
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $100
- 4-Hour Private Tour for Layover Travellers via Guangzhou Airport: $200
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King & Academy of Clan Chen in Guangzhou: $91
- 5-Hour Private Guangzhou Yumcha Tasting with Local Food Market Experience : $118
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.32Guangzhou $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou than you might in Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Guangzhou, 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.