How much does it cost to travel to Chengdu?
You should plan to spend around $50 (¥365) per day on your vacation in Chengdu. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $22 (¥157) on meals
- $5.94 (¥43) on local transportation
- $42 (¥302) on hotels
A one week trip to Chengdu for two people costs, on average, $706 (¥5,104). 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.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Chengdu 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 Chengdu expensive to visit?
Chengdu 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 is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Asia, Chengdu is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Hyderabad or Pune.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Chengdu Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Chengdu?
The average Chengdu trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Chengdu travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
¥302
($42)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
¥43
($6)
|
|
Food 2
|
¥157
($22)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
¥116
($16)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
¥14 -
43
($2 - 6)
|
Accommodation Budget in Chengdu
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Chengdu is $21 (¥151). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Chengdu is $42 (¥302). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Chengdu
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Chengdu is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.94 (¥43) per person, per day, on local transportation in Chengdu.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$5.94
¥43
How much does it cost to go to Chengdu? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Chengdu 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.
Food Budget in Chengdu
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Chengdu can vary, the average cost of food in Chengdu is $22 (¥157) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Chengdu should cost around $8.68 (¥63) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Chengdu is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$22
¥157
Entertainment Budget in Chengdu
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Chengdu typically cost an average of $16 (¥116) 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.
$16
¥116
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Chengdu
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 Chengdu is $21 (¥155), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$21
¥155
Alcohol Budget in Chengdu
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $3.94 (¥28) on alcoholic beverages in Chengdu per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$3.94
¥28
Water Budget in Chengdu
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.78 (¥5.61) on bottled water in Chengdu per day. The public water in Chengdu is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.78
¥5.61
Chengdu On a Budget
Chengdu, China
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
Chengdu is the fifth largest city in China with a population of almost 15 million in the metropolitan area. It's also an important economic, financial, commerical, and cultural center for China.
Chengdu has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate. There are four seasons with most of the rain falling during the warmer months. Snow is rare during the winter months but frost may occur.
Sights
There are a good number of sights in Chengdu, including People's Park, Tianfu Square, Wuhouci Temple, Kuanzhaixiangzi, and Jinsha Archaeological Site, among others. Museums in the city include the Sichuan University Museum and the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum.
Many people come to Chengdu specifically for the Chengdu Panda Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It is located in the outskirts of town and you can reach it by catching bus 902 at the Xinnanmen Bus Station. You can also pick up a taxi, which will cost you about 30 yuan from downtown assuming minimal traffic. The park has about 60 giant pandas, which are considered an endangered species in large part because of habitat destruction. They also have some red pandas and black-necked cranes. There is a viewing area where you can visit the giant pandas and the best time to visit is the morning when the pandas are moving around and more active. They usually feed the pandas sometime between 9:30 and 10:00. One of the main activities is to have your photo taking while holding a baby panda. This will set you back 1000 yuan and the entry cost of the facility is roughly 60 yuan. While it is a unique opportunity that you can't have anywhere else in the world, the whole experience feels very forced and awkward. You can expect little more than a moment to hold the animal while they quickly snap your photo. If you want a little more out of the experience you can hire an English speaking guide for the cost of 100 yuan.
Neighborhoods
Chengdu's metropolitan area can be divided into five urban districts, four suburban districts, and nine counties. The city core is where you will find the Qingyang District, Jinjiang District, Jinniu District, Wuhou District, and Chenghua District.
Activities
There are a variety of activities that you can enjoy while you're in Chengdu. There are many places where you can relax, sip tea, read books, play Weiqi, or have a massage. Chunxi is a shopping street that is pleasant to walk along during the afternoon. It's lined with clothing shops, book stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and arcades. Other activities include visiting the Happy Valley amusement park or going to the Sichuan Opera or a traditional show.
Food and Dining
Sichuan food is everywhere in Chengdu. The dishes are quite spicy but it is possible to order it without spice or a little spicy at most restaurants. It's also possible to break through the spice with sweetened soy, almond, peanut, or milk.
The spiciest food in Chengdu is the hotpot. Sichuan hot pots are large soups that cook in the middle of the table. You can select meat, vegetables, and other ingredients to flavor the soup. Unlike eastern hotpots, you do not drink the soup but instead fish out the ingredients and eat them with chopsticks.
Transportation
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is about 20 kilometers outside of the city center. It's a major transportation hub for the country and there are flights from all over China as well as many international destinations. You can take a bus from the airport to the city center and, of course, taxis are available.
There are also train bus connections to many cities within China.
Chengdu opened a metro service in 2010. The original line ran north and south between the North and South Railroad stations along Renmin Road. In 2014, Line 2 was opened between Xipu in the northwest and Longquanyi in the southeast.
There is a very comprehensive bus system in Chengdu. The system can be confusing and crowded, but it is a good option if you can figure it out. In general, rush hour has horrible traffic in Chengdu and traveling during these hours is best avoided.
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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.
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.