A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kunming vs. Tauranga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kunming or Tauranga?

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 Tauranga. 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 Tauranga?

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.

Tauranga

Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Tauranga or Kunming?

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 Kunming is $85, while the average daily cost in Tauranga is $118. 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 Tauranga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kunming $33
    Tauranga $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kunming $66
    Tauranga $148
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Tauranga

Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Tauranga? 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 Kunming


Hotels in Tauranga


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: Tauranga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kunming $14
    Tauranga $6.75
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming

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

  • [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Tauranga?

Prices for flights to both Tauranga 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kunming $39
    Tauranga $37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming

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

  • Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kunming $18
    Tauranga $10

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
  • Lijiang: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with Scenic Train Tour: $51
  • Kunming Western Hills Scenic Area Private Tour: $64
  • Kunming Western Hills Scenic Area Private Tour (Half Day): $66
  • Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary: $66
  • Guandu Ancient Town Private Tour (Half-Day): $66
  • Old Town Private Tour (Half Day): $66
  • Stone Forest + Yiliang Roast Duck + Kunming City Private Tour: $68
  • Stone Forest, Roast Duck Lunch and City Tour: $70

Tours and Activities in Tauranga

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

  • 6hr Hobbiton Movie Set Tour - Departs Tauranga: $155
  • 7 Hours Te Puia Rotorua Tour from Tauranga with Concert: $164
  • Boutique tour , Mt Maunganui, NZ farm, Rotorua lakes/geothermal : $138
  • From Dolphin and Wildlife Cruise: $102
  • From Half-Day Swimming with Dolphins Tour: $97
  • Guided Māori History and Culture Tour to Rotorua and Tauranga: $143
  • Half Day Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise - Tauranga: $104
  • Hobbiton movie set tour and a lot more beautiful NZ sights: $240
  • Katikati Avocado Adventure: $35
  • Mount Maunganui: Hot Ocean Water Pools Entry Ticket: $16
  • New Zealand Tauranga Tour with Transportation and Snacks: $75
  • Ports of Tauranga/Rotorua/Tga - 6 Hours Rotorua Highlights Tour: $119

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kunming $18
    Tauranga $10


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kunming and Tauranga, we can see that Tauranga 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 Tauranga 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 Tauranga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tauranga 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 Tauranga Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kunming or Tauranga?

Kunming has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Tauranga. When comparing the sizes of Kunming and Tauranga, 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.