Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Zhangye?
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 Zhangye or Lake Tekapo?
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 Zhangye and Lake Tekapo. 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: Zhangye or Lake Tekapo?
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.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.
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Zhangye Prices
China PricesLake Tekapo Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangye $105Lake Tekapo $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangye is $105, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $84. 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 Zhangye and Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangye $39Lake Tekapo $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangye $78Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Zhangye and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Zhangye or Lake Tekapo? 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: Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zhangye $39Lake Tekapo -
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 Zhangye or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo and Zhangye 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 dayZhangye $45Lake Tekapo $22
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangye $11Lake Tekapo -
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
- Danxia Geopark & Giant Buddha Private Day Tour: $246
- 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
Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Indoor Māori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $34
- Dark Sky Indoor Maori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $36
- Virtual Stargazing and Astronomy Experience: $52
- Virtual Stargazing & Astronomy Experience in Lake Tekapo: $54
- Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $57
- Silver River Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $59
- Mt. Hay Farm Experience Genuine Country Farming(Carbon Positive): $59
- Stargazing Experience: $70
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $71
- Stargazing Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $75
- Stargazing Experience at Cowan's Private Observatory: $79
- Lake Tekapo High Country Farm Tour (Carbon Positive): $86
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangye $7.01Lake Tekapo -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangye and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Zhangye is more expensive. And not only is Lake Tekapo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zhangye is in Asia and Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Tekapo 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 Zhangye would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zhangye than you might in Lake Tekapo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zhangye Expensive? and Is Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangye or Lake Tekapo?
Zhangye has a larger population, and is about 290 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Zhangye and Lake Tekapo, 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.