Travel Budget for Beijing Visit Beijing on a Budget or Travel in Style

Beijing, Beijing Shi, China

How much does it cost to travel to Beijing?

You should plan to spend around $78 (¥558) per day on your vacation in Beijing. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $21 (¥149) on meals
  • $7.68 (¥55) on local transportation
  • $79 (¥570) on hotels

A one week trip to Beijing for two people costs, on average, $1,085 (¥7,813). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $78
    ¥558
  • One Week Per person
    $543
    ¥3,907
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,085
    ¥7,813
  • One Month Per person
    $2,326
    ¥16,743
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,085
    ¥7,813
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $2,171
    ¥15,627
  • One Month For a couple
    $4,652
    ¥33,486
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Beijing cost?

A one week trip to Beijing usually costs around $543 (¥3,907) for one person and $1,085 (¥7,813) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Beijing on average costs around $1,085 (¥7,813) for one person and $2,171 (¥15,627) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Beijing will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Beijing on average costs around $2,326 (¥16,743) for one person and $4,652 (¥33,486) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Beijing has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Beijing expensive to visit?

Beijing is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in China, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Asia, Beijing is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Shijiazhuang or Bangkok.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Beijing Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Beijing?

The average Beijing trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Beijing travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) ¥570 ($79)
Local Transportation 1 ¥55 ($8)
Food 2 ¥149 ($21)
Entertainment 1 ¥173 ($24)
Tips and Handouts 1 ¥34 - 102 ($5 - 14)
Alcohol 2 ¥42 - 127 ($6 - 18)
Accommodation Budget in Beijing
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Beijing is $40 (¥285). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Beijing is $79 (¥570). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $40
    ¥285
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $79
    ¥570

Hotel Prices in Beijing

Looking for a hotel in Beijing? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Beijing
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Beijing is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $7.68 (¥55) per person, per day, on local transportation in Beijing.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $7.68
    ¥55

Recommended Services


Flights to Beijing
How much does it cost to go to Beijing? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Beijing
The price of renting a car in Beijing will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.


What did other people spend on Transportation in Beijing?

Typical prices for Transportation in Beijing are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Beijing, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Taxi
    ¥34
  • Train from Airport for Two
    ¥50
  • Taxi to Hotel
    ¥60
  • 2 Metro Passes
    ¥16
  • Metro
    ¥4.00


Food Budget in Beijing
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Beijing can vary, the average cost of food in Beijing is $21 (¥149) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Beijing should cost around $8.30 (¥60) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Beijing is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $21
    ¥149

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food in Beijing?

Typical prices for Food in Beijing are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Beijing, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Popcorn
    ¥6.00
  • Hot Pot Dinner
    ¥50
  • Dumpling Breakfast for Two
    ¥20
  • Watermelon
    ¥14
  • Peking Duck Dinner for 2
    ¥119
  • Two Popsicles
    ¥6.00


Entertainment Budget in Beijing
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Beijing typically cost an average of $24 (¥173) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $24
    ¥173

Recommended Activities

What did other people spend on Entertainment in Beijing?

Typical prices for Entertainment in Beijing are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Beijing, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Entry to Summer Palace for Two
    ¥60
  • Two Opera Tickets
    ¥425
  • Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)
    ¥70
  • Forbidden City (for 2)
    ¥120
  • Forbidden City Tickets
    ¥120
  • Audio Guides at Forbidden City
    ¥80


Tips and Handouts Budget in Beijing
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Beijing is $9.49 (¥68) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Beijing is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $9.49
    ¥68


Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Beijing
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Beijing is $0.69 (¥5.00), as reported by travelers.


  • Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
    $0.69
    ¥5.00


Alcohol Budget in Beijing
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $12 (¥85) on alcoholic beverages in Beijing per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $12
    ¥85

Recommended


Water Budget in Beijing
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $1.13 (¥8.11) on bottled water in Beijing per day. The public water in Beijing is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $1.13
    ¥8.11


Beijing On a Budget
Beijing Beijing, China
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
Sights
Beijing has no shortage of sights, the most famous of which is the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City housed the imperial family for centuries and today it is visited by thousands of tourists every year. More modern sights include the Birds Nest Stadium and Olympic Village, which remains a tribute to the 2008 Olympics hosted by Beijing. It is best to visit the Olympic Village at night when everything is impressively lit up. Other famous sites in the city include the Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Tiananmen Square. Popular parks in the city include Beihai Park, Chaoyang Park, and Ritan Park.

It's also possible to get to various sections of the Great Wall of China quite easily from Beijing.
Neighborhoods
Beijing can be divided into five districts. Dongcheng District is the urban area found on the eastern half of the city's urban core. It covers 24.7 square kilometers and includes Wangfujing, Dongdan, and the Beijing Railway Station. The Chaoyangmen area is found in the district and is where you'll find the Forbidden City, the Temple of Confucius, Imperial College, Tian'anmen Square and many other sights.

Xicheng District is 32 square kilometers and has the city's commerical district, Beihai Park, and the Beijing Zoo.

Chaoyang District is where you'll find most of Beijing's foreign embassies as well as Sanlitun bar street and Olympic Park.

Haidian District is a suburban area with many universities and a large foreign population.

Shijingshan District is located west of the urban core and is part of the Western Hills area.

Activities
Beijing is a large metropolitan city with countless activities that you can enjoy. Theater, music, and the arts are all represented throughout the city. An interesting experience in Beijing is to take in an acrobatics show, with performers and contortionists that can bend and twist in the most unexpected ways. The opera house also offers shows and performances that are well worth an evening's time.

The city has many interesting festivals throughout the year as well. Some of the more popular ones include Temple Fair, the Grand View Garden Fair, Fragrant Hills Red Leaves Festival and Yanqing Ice and Snow Festival.
Food and Dining
Food in Beijing is delicious and diverse. The most notable dish is, of course, the famed Peking Duck. Dining on Peking Duck in China is an experience not to be missed. The meal is elaborate and quite filling. The duck is served in its entirety with a plum sauce and the remaining bones are made into a soup that follows the main dish. Another traditional favorite is the Chinese "Hot Pot". This soup is made at the table and includes a range of ingredients such as thin slices of meat, vegetables, and noodles all cooked in a boiling broth. The soup is served with a a tasty peanut sauce.

Also enjoy a traditional breakfast of dumplings and deep fried bread. This is a cheap and delicious way to start your day. In the evening head to the night market, which has become a favorite among tourists. While it's no longer as authentic as it once was, it still holds on to some of its original charm.

Transportation
Getting around Beijing can be a little frustrating because of it's large size and crowded nature. Communication can also be a bit of a challenge but English signs became much more common following the 2008 Olympics. In particular, you will find a lot of English on the subway system which is surprisingly easy to navigate. It is the best way to make your way around the city, although buses are convenient as well. Subway tickets cost roughly 4 yuan. Buses travel throughout the city and lines are numbered between 1 and 999. Buses with numbers under 300 serve the city center and those over 300 travel to more suburban destinations with those over 900 going to rural districts. Taxis are also abundant, but prices should be negotiated in advance, particularly in the evening when drivers tend to charge unreasonably high markups.


Related:

Looking for a hostel in China?
Traveling alone to Beijing or Hong Kong or want to party in Shanghai?

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.