Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Jinghong?
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 Jinghong or Katoomba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Jinghong and Katoomba can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Jinghong or Katoomba?
Jinghong
Located in the southernmost part of the Yunnan Province, Jinghong is a city that attracts visitors each year with its rich culture and folklore, Buddhist temples, and tropical rainforest scenery of palms and mango trees amongst others. It is also an area popular with backpackers as well as a waypoint for travelers passing between China and Laos.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.
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Jinghong Prices
China PricesKatoomba Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJinghong $83Katoomba $148
The average daily cost (per person) in Jinghong is $83, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $148. 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 Jinghong and Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJinghong $20Katoomba $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJinghong $40Katoomba $156
Compare Hotels in Jinghong and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in Jinghong or Katoomba? 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: Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jinghong $25Katoomba $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Jinghong or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba and Jinghong 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 dayJinghong $48Katoomba $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jinghong $9.31Katoomba $54
Tours and Activities in Jinghong
Here are a few actual costs in Jinghong for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Best of Dai Villages | 20km E-Bike Tour: $41
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $65
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $66
- Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $73
- Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $99
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $100
- Blue Mountains Tour with Scenic World, Zoo&Bilingual Driver: $100
- Blue Mountains Day Tour with Wildlife and Scenic World: $101
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $109
- Blue Mountains: Spectacular Half Day Abseiling Adventure: $116
- Half-Day Abseiling Adventure in Blue Mountains National Park: $117
- Blue Mountains Day Tour with Scenic World and Wildlife Park Entry: $118
- Small Group Blue Mountains Wildlife & Bushwalk Tour From Sydney: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJinghong $5.41Katoomba -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jinghong and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Jinghong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jinghong is in Asia and Katoomba is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Jinghong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jinghong 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba than you might in Jinghong.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jinghong Expensive? and Is Katoomba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jinghong or Katoomba?
Jinghong has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Jinghong and Katoomba, 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.