Which place is cheaper, Arrowtown or Yangshuo?
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 Yangshuo or Arrowtown?
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 Yangshuo and Arrowtown can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Yangshuo or Arrowtown?
Yangshuo
A county of the city, Guilin, Yangshuo is located in a region famous for its karst topography. Surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River, Yangshuo has become a popular home base for tourists looking to explore the region's natural wonders. Backpackers and tourists, both foreign and domestic, come to Yangshuo every year making it a city of many cultures. Most locals are even able to speak English, which is fairly uncommon for Chinese cities.
Arrowtown
Historically, Arrowtown is an old gold mining town that is located on the South Island of New Zealand. The town was established during the Otago gold rush of 1862. It is very close to Queenstown, which is a very popular destination among travelers, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is a very tiny town, with a population of just over 2,000 people. The town has a lot of character and history and is a perfect place to go if you wish to get out of the touristy areas like Queenstown.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.
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Yangshuo Prices
China PricesArrowtown Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYangshuo $86Arrowtown $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Yangshuo is $86, while the average daily cost in Arrowtown is $136. 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 Yangshuo and Arrowtown in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYangshuo $26Arrowtown $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYangshuo $52Arrowtown $134
Compare Hotels in Yangshuo and Arrowtown
Looking for a hotel in Yangshuo or Arrowtown? 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: Arrowtown Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yangshuo $43Arrowtown $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangshuo
Also for Yangshuo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Yangshuo hotel: $56
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Xingping hotel: $67
- Private Yangshuo Transfer from Hotel to Longji terraces Hotel: $96
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo(Xingping) Train Station to Yangshuo Hotel: $21
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Guilin hotel: $37
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Longsheng hotel: $107
- Private One Way Transfer Service to Guilin City Hotel or Airport from Yangshuo: $48
- Private Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Show with Hotel Transfer: $88
- Private Departure Transfer: Yangshuo to Guilin Train Stations: $49
- Private Airport Transfer: Yangshuo Hotel to Guilin Liangjiang Airport: $45
- Impression Liu Sanjie - Ticket Booking (including Round-trip Transfer): $62
- Guilin: Li River Cruise with Transfer to Yangshuo: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Yangshuo or Arrowtown?
Prices for flights to both Arrowtown and Yangshuo 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 dayYangshuo $33Arrowtown $52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangshuo
For Yangshuo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Yangshuo Cooking Class with Market Trip: $45
- Full-day Cultural Experience: Taichi, Cooking & Painting Lessons: $100
- The impression Liu sanjie show and local dinner in town : $145
- Combo Impression Sanjie Liu Show and Authentic Cooking Experience: $199
- Yangshuo Full Day Tour: Cooking class, River boat, Light Show: $259
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yangshuo $24Arrowtown $15
Tours and Activities in Yangshuo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Yangshuo.
- Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour from Yangshuo hotel: $181
- Yangshuo Helicopter Tour from Yangshuo hotel: $170
- 1-Day Guilin City Tour and Ends of Longji Rice Terraces from Yangshuo: $218
- 1-Day Private Yangshuo Bicycle Tour along Ten-Mile Gallery: $119
- 1-Day Terracotta Warriors Tour from Beijing/Chengdu/Shanghai: $497
- All Inclusive Private Hiking Tour in Yangshuo: $84
- Day Tour in Yangshuo and Li River: $155
- Enchanting Li River & Beyond: Cruise, Peaks & Panorama: $293
- Entry Ticket to Liu San Jie Impression Show: $71
- From Guilin: 6-Day Yangtze River Cruise with Excursions: $1,299
- From Guilin: Yangshuo Rock-climbing & River-tracing Tour: $282
- From Xingping River-tracing Half Day Private Tour: $102
Tours and Activities in Arrowtown
For Arrowtown, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Queenstown: 'Valley of the Vines' Wine and Bike Tour: $87
- Queenstown: Arrowtown To Queenstown Biking Adventure: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYangshuo $34Arrowtown $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yangshuo and Arrowtown, we can see that Arrowtown is more expensive. And not only is Yangshuo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Yangshuo is in Asia and Arrowtown 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 Yangshuo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yangshuo 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 Arrowtown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arrowtown than you might in Yangshuo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yangshuo Expensive? and Is Arrowtown Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yangshuo or Arrowtown?
Yangshuo has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of Yangshuo and Arrowtown, 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.