8 Best Budget Accommodation Available In Kunming - Updated 2023

places to stay in kunming
Irina
Irina 
Updated
| 3 min read

Congrats! You’ve made it to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. You chose wisely, since Kunming and the surrounding area is just amazing - the mountains, the nature, the pretty villages, the friendly locals, the history, the rivers. The entire itinerary is planned very well, you know what to see and where to go. There’s only one question left to be answered and that is: where will you be staying? Although Kunming is considered a small city by Chinese standards, it is actually rather wide, so you want to make sure you book your accommodation in a good area. Find below a list of cheap and comfortable places that you can choose from.

1. Upland Youth Hostel (from USD 16)

Upland Hostel is a great place to meet other travelers. The rooms are big and the beds comfortable. It’s located just a few minutes walk from Cuihu Lake. There’s always a lively atmosphere in the bar and the inner yard. The staff also provides bike rental service. You can find a wide range of restaurants around, most of them small local Chinese joints, but there are also a few Western options.


Kunming Upland International Youth Hostel

Wifi Available

Address: No.92 West Huashan Road, Wuhua District

Parking Restaurant Room service Bar 24-hour front desk Garden Terrace Non-smoking rooms

2. Cloudland International Youth Hostel (from USD 21)

Although it is a bit out of the central area, it is very easy to get here by both public transportation or taxi. The ping-pong and pool tables contribute to creating a lively and playful atmosphere. It’s for sure a good place to interact with other travelers and even with other locals who like to hang out in the bar. Supermarkets and restaurant options are available close-by too.


Kunming Cloudland International Youth Hostel

Address: No.23 Zhuantang Road, Wuhua District

Restaurant Room service Meeting/banquet facilities Bar 24-hour front desk Garden Terrace Non-smoking rooms

3. Homestay in a cozy home

This flat is situated in a green area of the city - Lianhua campus, about 0.5 km (0.3 mi) away from the central area. It is perfect for independent travelers. The room provided is the study room of Yichen and her husband, a very friendly Chinese couple. Staying here provides a good opportunity to interact more with local people and see the living conditions in Kunming.

2 reviews  Wifi Available
Private room 1 Bed 2 Guests 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 2

Top guest reviews
Host:
yichen & long were great hosts kind and warm
to summerize they became more than just hosts - we felt like a part of family
Read more reviews

4. Apartment on Nanping street

This two-room apartment is downtown, on Nanping Street, close to a lot of restaurants, cafes and shopping malls. It is also walking distance from Green Lake Park. The modern, colorful design creates a very cozy atmosphere and it is built on two levels - the living room and bathroom are situated on the first floor, whereas the two bedrooms are upstairs. The host is very helpful and friendly, easy to reach and always willing to assist.

Kunming, Yunnan, China
185 reviews Superhost  Wifi Available
ENTIRE RENTAL UNIT 2 Beds 4 Guests 2 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 4

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
view from the apartment is great
overall it was a lovely place to stay value-for-money comfortable for 4 and no hassle during check-in or check-out
Host:
host is helpful and friendly
was a great host
the host is responsive and helpful
he was very helpful during my stay too
is very responsive to my queries before and during my stay
Location:
very lively location in the middle of the shopping district
excellent location just around 15rmb taxi from train station to this place
easy access to bus stops local shops and big shopping malls
excellent location - plenty of restaurants and other local and western food options
stylish apartment in central location and very easy communication and check-in
Read more reviews

5. Studio on Xuefu Street

Placed in a relatively central location on Xuefu Street, close to the Yunnan Normal University on Jianshe Road, this studio has a very playful design. The hosts also provide a nice collection of board games and even a playstation. The room is very bright and the bed very comfortable.

Kunming, Yunnan, China
93 reviews  Wifi Available
ENTIRE RENTAL UNIT 1 Bed 2 Guests 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 2

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
the bed is super comfortable and we really enjoyed the many games available with the ps2
Cleanliness:
it is a nice sized studio apartment and is clean and well decorated and furnished
it was also super clean and is very well located in kunming
Host:
the host was very kind very helpful and welcoming
the host is very helpful and was easily contactable even late at night
Location:
it is easy to catch a bus or taxi
Read more reviews

6. Blossom play&design Hotel (from USD 27)

Blossom play&design Hotel is a new hotel with modern design. Located about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) away from Cuihu Park, it is easily reachable by public transportation from the city center. There is a bus station close by too. The beds are very comfortable and the staff helpful and friendly.

7. The Hump-Mulan Guest House (from USD 29)

The Hump-Mulan Guest House is located a bit outside the central area, in between Dianci Lake and Green Lake. Everything is reachable by taxi (15 minutes drive to Green Lake and 20 minutes drive to the train station) or by local public transportation. The rooms are very bright and the design modern. It is both a guesthouse and a hostel, so Mulan Guest House (also known as The Hump Youth Hostel) offers both dormitories and family rooms.


The Hump-Mulan Guest House

Wifi Available

Address: 8-4 Villa, East Xihua District, Xiyuan Road

Parking Restaurant Room service Bar 24-hour front desk Terrace Non-smoking rooms Laundry

8. Lost Garden Guesthouse (from USD 44)

The best thing about Lost Garden Guesthouse is its location: south of Cuihu (Green Lake) Park. Due to this, many of the touristic attractions are within walking distance. Among the expat community in Kunming, Lost Garden Guesthouse is also known for its good pizza. The relaxed ambiance, the quietness of the area and the hospitality of the owners make this guesthouse one of the coziest in the city.


Lost Garden Guest House

Wifi Available

Address: No. 7 Yiqiutian, Denghua Street, South Cuihu Road

Restaurant Room service Bar 24-hour front desk Garden Terrace Non-smoking rooms Airport shuttle

Enjoy your time in the heart of Yunnan province

There are many places to explore both in Kunming and around it. The area is just wonderful and has a lot to offer. So now that you’ve finished planning your stay in Kunming, it’s time to start researching more about Lijiang, Dali and Shangri-la. You also have to check out all the amazing mountains in this area. This part of China is different to the usual touristic destinations of Westerners in China. You can get close to the nature, you can experience the village life, you can learn more by interacting with the locals. So don’t hesitate to start your adventure in this part of the world. It’s totally worth it.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Romanian. Wanna-be digital nomad. Change junkie. Studied econometrics, got a good job in Berlin in risk management after graduation. Quit a good job after two years for a volunteering position in...Read more

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