Which place is cheaper, Zhangye or Ubud?
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 Ubud or Zhangye?
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 Ubud and Zhangye. 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: Ubud or Zhangye?
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
Zhangye
Zhangye, China is a city in the Gansu Province in the central north part of the country, close to Mongolia. This ancient city has often been used as a military strong hold, having been the headquarters of General Huo among many others. Zhangye is a fabulous day trip city to visit when staying in larger nearby cities.
Zhangye is privy to beautiful summer weather, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70's Fahrenheit. The best times to visit are between July and September, when temperatures and sunshine are at their highest. Autumn, Winter, and Spring tend to be a little chillier and rainier.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Ubud Prices
Indonesia PricesZhangye Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUbud $153Zhangye $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Ubud is $153, while the average daily cost in Zhangye is $105. 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 Ubud and Zhangye in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUbud $128Zhangye $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUbud $256Zhangye $78
Compare Hotels in Ubud and Zhangye
Looking for a hotel in Ubud or Zhangye? 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: Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ubud $1.75Zhangye $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- Private Bali Airport Transfer – Fast, Safe & Comfortable Ride: $6.73
- Eco Friendly Premium Electric Vehicle Airport Transfers : $6.76
- Ubud -Airport Private Transfer: $7.00
- Private Arrival Transfer: Bali Airport to Hotel: $7.40
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bali Airport: $7.50
- Bali Airport (DPS) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $8.02
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Denpasar APT-HTL(DPS) : $8.88
- Bali Private Airport Transfer Chauffeur Service: $9.00
- Bali Airport - Bali Transfer to all area in Bali - Bali driver: $9.00
- Bali Airport Transfer - Price per Car: $9.00
- Denpasar Airport (DPS) to Bali hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $9.56
- Bali Airport - Arrival Transfer: $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangye
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhangye:
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Airport (YZY) to Zhangye Hotel: $59
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Hotel to Zhangye Airport (YZY): $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Ubud or Zhangye?
Prices for flights to both Zhangye and Ubud 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 dayUbud $20Zhangye $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Balinese Cooking Class, Rice Field & Market Tour: $16
- Ubud Mystic Dinner at Oracle of Spice Lemuria The Lost City: $17
- Oracle of Spice Mystic Dinner Experience in Bali: $17
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Cooking Class with Transfers and Optional Market Visit: $22
- Balinese Cooking Class and Market Tour: $22
- Ubud : Regular or Vegetarian cooking class with market visit: $22
- Ubud Cooking : All Inclusive Cooking Class: $23
- Dinner Show Lost City - Story of Humanity Experience: $24
- Cooking Class with Market Visit and Hotel Pickup: $25
- Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
- Ubud Cooking Class by Lemon Grass Cooking Class: $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ubud $9.84Zhangye $11
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bali: Ubud Kecak and Fire Dance Show Tickets: $6.23
- Bali: Ubud Palace Legong Dance Show Ticket: $6.23
- Barong Dance and Keris Cultural Dance Show Tickets: $6.23
- Mangrove Tour at Nusa Lembongan : Kayak, Paddle and Boat: $8.00
- Batur Natural Hot Springs Entrance Ticket - Swim: $8.81
- One Way Ticket Fast Boat from Sanur Bali and Nusa Penida : $8.92
- Bali Tour Customized with Private Tour Driver: $9.00
- ATV Adventure with Private Tracks and Guide in Ubud: $9.18
- Hike and Heal Mount Batur Sunrise Tour with Hot Springs Add On: $9.18
- Full-Day Private North Bali Tour with Free WiFi: $9.32
- Legong Lasem Or Ramayana Ballet Show Ticket: $9.35
- ARMA Cultural Dance Performance Tickets: $9.35
Tours and Activities in Zhangye
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zhangye are as follows:
- Zhangye One Day City Tour: $77
- Private day tour to Zhangye Danxia Landform the Rainbow Mountain: $150
- Private day tour to Zhangye Mati temple & Giant Buddha Temple start from Zhangye: $155
- Zhangye Danxia Half Day tour: $195
- Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Private Day Tour: $214
- Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes: $235
- Mati Temple Grottoes & Giant Buddha Temple Tour: $257
- Private Day Tour: Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform: $299
- Private Hiking Tour: Binggou Danxia and Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Zhangye: $299
- From 6-Day Private Photography Tour to Dunhuang: $1,099
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUbud $6.62Zhangye $7.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ubud and Zhangye, we can see that Ubud is more expensive. And not only is Zhangye much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangye would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangye 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud than you might in Zhangye.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ubud Expensive? and Is Zhangye Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ubud or Zhangye?
Zhangye has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Ubud and Zhangye, 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.