A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aqaba vs. Pingyao for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aqaba or Pingyao?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Pingyao, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Aqaba or Pingyao?

Aqaba

Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.

Pingyao

Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Aqaba?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $72. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Aqaba and Pingyao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aqaba $59
    Pingyao $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aqaba $118
    Pingyao $48
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Pingyao

Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Pingyao? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Aqaba


Hotels in Pingyao


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Aqaba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aqaba $24
    Pingyao $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:

  • Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
  • King Hussein Int Airport Transfers One Way to Aqaba: $25
  • Private Transfer: Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $27
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Hotels: $27
  • Aqaba Hussein Airport (AQJ) to Aqaba - Arrival Private Transfer: $30
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Tala bay Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $33
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Cruise Port: $48
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Port to King Hussein Airport (AQJ): $48
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Cruise Port to Aqaba hotels: $48
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Cruise Port to Petra hotels: $48
  • Snorkeling in The Red Sea With Equipment And Free Transfer: $51
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Cruise Port to Aqaba City Hotels: $55

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $1.48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:

  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
  • Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Pingyao?

Prices for flights to both Pingyao and Aqaba change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Aqaba $73
    Pingyao $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.

  • Sunset Cruise with BBQ Dinner and Drinks: $54
  • Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
  • Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $82
  • Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner: $100
  • Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $109
  • From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
  • Wadi Rum Private Tour with Jeep Safari and Dinner: $220
  • Half Day Sunset Tour + Dinner & overnight stay in luxury tents: $286
  • Petra & Wadi Rum Private Tour with Dinner one day: $425

Typical Food Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for 2)
    $5.32
  • Mango Juice
    $0.74

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aqaba $54
    Pingyao $20

Tours and Activities in Aqaba

Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Sightseeing Bike Rental in Aqaba: $7.00
  • Turgut camp with tour: $15
  • Aqaba : All Water Sports Adventure in the Red Sea: $22
  • Join Us Before Sunset – Aqaba Walking Tour Let's Go!: $27
  • Wadi Rum Half-day Jeep Tour incl. sandboard, water & Bedouin tea: $30
  • Aqaba Walking Tour : History ,Culture & Food: $30
  • Glass-Bottom Boat 2-hours Tour and Coral-Reef Viewing from Aqaba: $30
  • Stargazing Adventure in Jordan: $30
  • Private Walking Tour in Aqaba City with Free Meal: $30
  • Saraya Aqaba Waterpark entrance tickets: $33
  • Wadi Rum: Premium English Speaking Guide 4WD Desert Tour: $33
  • 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35

Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:


  • All Day Bike Rental (for 2)
    $2.95
  • Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)
    $7.38
  • Bike Parking Fee (for 2)
    $0.59

Tours and Activities in Pingyao

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:

  • Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
  • 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $76
  • All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
  • Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
  • Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $164
  • 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $170
  • Pingyao Day Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $175
  • One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
  • Pingyao in One Day: Including City Highlights and Shuanglin Temple Private Tour: $204
  • Private Day Tour: Pingyao Highlights of Old Town and City Wall: $205
  • 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress: $206
  • Private Tour of Pingyao Ancient City, Qiao's Family Compound,Shuanglin Temple: $221

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aqaba $9.07
    Pingyao $14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Pingyao, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Pingyao is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba than you might in Pingyao.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Pingyao Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Pingyao?

Aqaba has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Pingyao, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.