Is Beijing Expensive?

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 $96, 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 Busan (Pusan) and Manila.



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 $96 (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 $287 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a weekend trip would cost $573.

How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Beijing?

On average, a one week trip to Beijing costs about $669 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 $1,338.



Beijing, China

Is it expensive to backpack in Beijing?

With more than 10 hostels in the area, Beijing is a popular backpacker destination for travelers looking to stay on a tight budget and have a fun time along the way. Here, hostels cost an average of $21 per night for a dorm bed, with private rooms being more expensive. (See hostel prices in Beijing here.) It's also common to see a wide range in prices, as the cheapest hostels here cost $13, but the most expensive can be more than $31 per night.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Beijing.

  • $27 for a dorm bed at Peking International Youth Hostel
  • $24 for a dorm bed at The Great Wall Box House
  • $16 for a dorm bed at Beijing Yue Xuan Courtyard Hostel

Are hotels expensive in Beijing?

From our analysis of hotel prices in Beijing, we can see that they are moderate and on par in comparison to the rest of the world. On average, a night in a hotel room costs approximately $0. The area hosts around five-star hotels, averaging $160 per night. For those with an eye on both comfort and economy, three-star hotels present a reasonable choice at an average of $67 per night, while two-star hotels offer an even more economical option at $42 per night.


Hotels by star rating in Beijing
Rating Number of Hotels Average Hotel Price
5 stars 0 $160
4 stars 0 $84
3 stars 0 $67
2 stars 0 $42
1 star 0 $59
No rating 0 $100

Building 2, Yard 2, Cuihu North Ring Road, Beijing
Overall Rating 9.6
13 Zhanqian Street, Beijing
Overall Rating 9.5

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 $26 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is more than the country's average of $18.

  • Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour: $80
  • All-inclusive Private Day Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall: $188
  • Mutianyu Great Wall Private Day Tour With English-Speaking Driver: $75
  • Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour with Options: $80
  • Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City: $110
  • Private Day to T-Square, Forbidden city, Temple of heaven, Summer palace Tour: $182
  • Beijing :Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour: $168
  • Badaling Great Wall Private Day/Evening Tour: $69

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 $36 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $40. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.

  • Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef: $20
  • Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $70
  • China's Favourite Street Food Cooking Workshop: $55
  • Beijing Evening Tour: Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner: $130
  • Beijing Food Tour: $40
  • Beijing Craft Beer Fans Hutong Dinner Tour: $170

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.



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