Is Beijing expensive to visit?
While Beijing is a popular place for travelers, it is also somewhat affordable and less expensive to visit. The average daily cost is $89, which is one of the many reasons for its popularity with tourists. When compared to other destinations in Asia, many visitors find it to be a moderately priced destination. It's in the top 50% of places in Asia for its travel costs, and our cost analysis found it to be comparable to Bali and Ho Chi Minh City.

Beijing, China
How expensive is Beijing?
The average cost of traveling to Beijing can vary widely based on many factors, but our calculations based on previous travlers show that the average daily cost is $89 (U.S. Dollars). Your travel style, accommodation preferences, dining choices, and trip duration can alter your individual budget, as you can find a wide array of accommodation, food, and entertainment options available for your visit. Sticking to mid-range hotels, affordable restaurants, and public transit when available can keep your costs close to this calculated average. See more travel costs for Beijing here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Beijing?
Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a weekend trip to Beijing will cost around $266 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a weekend trip would cost $532.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Beijing?
On average, a one week trip to Beijing costs about $620 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,241.

Beijing, China
Is it expensive to backpack in Beijing?
Beijing is a fairly common backpacker destination with more than 7 hostels in the area. Dorm beds in hostels average about $22 per night. (See hostel prices in Beijing here.) Keep in mind that you'll find a wide range in prices here, too. The most expensive beds are priced around $35 and the cheapest around $13 per night.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Beijing.
- $25 for a dorm bed at Peking International Youth Hostel
- $22 for a dorm bed at The Great Wall Box House
- $16 for a dorm bed at Beijing Yue Xuan Courtyard Hostel
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Beijing?
Activities and things to do in Beijing can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $24 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is more than the country's average of $17.
- Beijing Capital Airport Layover Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour: $70
- Private Trekking Day Tour to Jinshanling Great Wall: $122
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace: $180
- Great Wall & Forbidden City Layover Small Group Tour (8AM-4PM): $150
- Beijing Private Day Tour of Forbidden City and Great Wall at Mutianyu : $189
- Private Day Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and Forbidden City: $208
- Private Mutianyu Great Wall Tour from Beijing: $178
- Top 3 Beijing City Highlights All Inclusive Private Tour: $136
Is food expensive in Beijing?
Food in Beijing can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $33 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $37. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
- China's Favourite Street Food Cooking Workshop: $55
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $85
- Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall and Food Tour: $226
- 3-Hour Private Old Beijing Hutong Dinner Tour: $272
- Hands-On Immersion: Chinese Culture & Family Food Tour: $95
- Private Beijing Jingshan Hill, Beihai, and Hutongs with Imperial Lunch/Dinner: $180
Is transportation expensive in Beijing?
Exploring local transportation in Beijing shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $8 per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $16. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.
More for Beijing
If you're planning a trip to Beijing, China, check out these other informative travel guides.
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.