Which place is cheaper, Sydney or Kunming?
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 Kunming or Sydney?
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 Kunming and Sydney. 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: Kunming or Sydney?
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.
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Kunming Prices
China PricesSydney Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKunming $85Sydney $207
The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $85, while the average daily cost in Sydney is $207. 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 Kunming and Sydney in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKunming $33Sydney $103
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKunming $66Sydney $206
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Sydney
Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Sydney? 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: Sydney Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kunming $14Sydney $15
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$1.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
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Taxi Ride$13
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Taxi to Airport$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- From Special Event, Festival or Conference Transfers: $661
- Hunter Valley Sunrise Balloon Flight with Transfer: $363
- From Sydney Hotels - Hotel Transfer to Airport: $355
- Airport Transfer from Sydney Airport to Hotels: $295
- Private City, Harbour, and Bondi Tour with Transfer: $274
- Private Transfer from Sydney Hotels to Airport: $255
- Private Transfer from Sydney City Hotels to Newcastle Cruise Port: $252
- Private Transfer - Sydney Airport (SYD) to Newcastle Cruise Port: $252
- Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers: $251
- Premium Private Transfer FROM Sydney CBD/Downtown to Sydney Airport 1-11 people: $242
- Premium Private Transfer FROM Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD/Downtown 1-11 people: $242
- Featherdale Wildlife Park with Exclusive Private Transfers: $234
Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Sydney?
Prices for flights to both Sydney and Kunming 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 dayKunming $39Sydney $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Discovery more Kunming evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
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Tea$2.62
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Lunch Special$9.81
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Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.81
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Meat Pies$3.27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- Vivid Festival of Light Harbor Cruise with Dinner: $36
- City Highlights Walking Food Tour with Harbor Cruise: $45
- Roti Making Class with 5-Course Dinner: $50
- Harbour Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $50
- Sydney Harbour Discovery Dinner Cruise Scenic Sights and Buffet: $50
- Foraging Food Tour Sydney Native Aussie Food: $53
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $54
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise: $60
- Taste of Sydney Fish Market Food Tour: $64
- Kids Cooking Classes: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kunming $18Sydney $31
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- Kunming City & Cultural Walking tour: $26
- Yunnan University & Culture Alley Guided Tour: $26
- Half Day Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary: $43
- Kunming City Tour with Private Guide: $44
- Kunming Western Hills Scenic Area Private Tour: $64
- Old Town Private Tour (Half Day): $66
- Guandu Ancient Town Private Tour (Half-Day): $66
- Kunming Western Hills Scenic Area Private Tour (Half Day): $66
- Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary: $66
- Stone Forest + Yiliang Roast Duck + Kunming City Private Tour: $68
- Stone Forest, Roast Duck Lunch and City Tour: $70
- Lijiang: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with Scenic Train Tour: $74
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Theatre Show$29
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Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
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Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$125
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Powerhouse Museum$9.85
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sunrise Serenity Kayak Tour of Sydney Harbour: $104
- #1 Blue Mountains Tour Scenic World Waterfalls Wildlife Park: $188
- 1 Day Thredbo Snow Adventure: $113
- 1 Day Thredbo Snow Tour From Sydney: $117
- 1/2 day Sydney Sightseeing and Bondi Beach Tour: $45
- 14-Day Sydney to Cairns, Fraser, Whitsundays Comfort Tour: $5,614
- 2 Hours Running Tour in Sydney: $99
- 3 Hours Elvis Tribute Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $53
- 30 Minute Shared Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Tour: $238
- 30-minute Private Sydney Harbour Helicopter Tour for 2: $331
- 45-Minute Sydney Harbour Adventure Jet Boat Ride: $66
- 45-Minute Vivid Sydney Scenic Jet Boat Cruise Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKunming $18Sydney $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
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Wine$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Wollongong Bar Crawl Go Out with a Gong: $15
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Party Hosts: $32
- Private Wine Tasting at The Rocks: $46
- Sydney Cellar Door - Old Vine Expressions Wine Tasting: $47
- Marrickville Brewery Tour: $78
- From: Sydney - Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Guided Day Tour: $89
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $103
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
- From Full-Day Hunter Valley Wine Tour & Lunch: $145
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour: $145
- From Hunter Valley Multi-Brewery Tour with Lunch: $149
- Small Group Hunter Valley Wine Tour + Lunch, Gin & Choc ex Sydney: $151
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kunming and Sydney, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Kunming much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kunming is in Asia and Sydney 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 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Kunming Expensive? and Is Sydney Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kunming or Sydney?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kunming. When comparing the sizes of Kunming and Sydney, 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.