Objective To observe the different clinical manifestations of desflurane and propofol in anesthesia and compare the costs of expenditure of desflurane and propofol at maintaining anesthesia. Methods Twenty patients scheduled for laparoscopic tubal ligation were randomly assigned to use propofol or desflurane to maintain anesthesia. BIS, HR, NBP were monitored. The recovery time was observed and the expenditure of both anesthetics was calculated. Results There was no significant difference in both groups about HR and NBP. BIS was higher in propofol group than in desflurane group during anesthesia. Recovery time was longer in propofol group than in desflurane group. The cost of the desflurane group was more expensive than the propofol group in China. Conclusion Both propofol and desflurane can maintain stable anesthesia and hemodynamics. The recovery time after desflurane anesthesia, time is more rapidly than after propofol anesthesia. But desflurane anesthesia is more expensive in China.