Which place is cheaper, Fiordland National Park or Lijiang?
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 Lijiang or Fiordland National Park?
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 Lijiang and Fiordland National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Lijiang or Fiordland National Park?
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
Fiordland National Park
One of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, Fiordland National Park is New Zealand's largest park, as well as one of the largest in the world. Although it may be the largest, it is the least explored park in the country. The park takes up the southwest region of the south island. The Department of Conservation manages the park (like all of the other parks in the country) and they try to keep development minimal in efforts to protect the environment and manage human activity. When visiting the park, prepare for rain as the park as over 200 days of rain per year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand, and The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in New Zealand.
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Lijiang Prices
China PricesFiordland National Park Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLijiang $55Fiordland National Park $113
The average daily cost (per person) in Lijiang is $55, while the average daily cost in Fiordland National Park is $113. 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 Lijiang and Fiordland National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLijiang $16Fiordland National Park $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLijiang $32Fiordland National Park $96
Compare Hotels in Lijiang and Fiordland National Park
Looking for a hotel in Lijiang or Fiordland National Park? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lijiang $5.67Fiordland National Park $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
- Private Transfer from Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG) to Dali : $149
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Lijiang or Fiordland National Park?
Prices for flights to both Fiordland National Park and Lijiang 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 dayLijiang $30Fiordland National Park $39
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lijiang $20Fiordland National Park $20
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Baisha Village Private Tour: $245
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- 1-Day Private Tour to Lijiang Highlights: $297
- 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
- 3days Dali Lijiang highlights tour start from Kunming: $700
- 4 Hour Private Lijiang City Highlights Walking Tour: $72
- 7-Day Yunnan Culture & Nature Tour: $1,008
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang: $221
- Beautiful Country road Biking tour to Xinhua village Heqing start from Lijiang: $173
- China: 18-Day Tour with Shanghai, Guilin,Yunnan and Beijing: $4,500
- Flexible Lijiang City Highlights Private Day Tour with Lunch: $208
Tours and Activities in Fiordland National Park
For Fiordland National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Milford Sound: Premium Small Group Cruise with Canape Lunch: $404
- Te Anau: River Jet Boat and Bike Ride Tour with Local Guide: $141
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLijiang $7.98Fiordland National Park $8.03
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lijiang and Fiordland National Park, we can see that Fiordland National Park is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lijiang is in Asia and Fiordland National Park 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 Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Fiordland National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fiordland National Park than you might in Lijiang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lijiang Expensive? and Is Fiordland National Park Expensive?.
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.