Which place is cheaper, Atlanta or Beijing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Atlanta can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Beijing is a fascinating, historic, and massive city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.
Atlanta is a cultural, diverse, and sprawling city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Beijing than Atlanta. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Beijing is very popular for its food, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Atlanta attracts visitors for its shopping. Beijing is more touristy than Atlanta and is popular for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. It is also well known for The Forbidden City. Atlanta is famous for its world class aquarium, its role as host of the 1996 Olympic Games, and its influence during the Civil Rights Movement.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Atlanta and Beijing. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Beijing or Atlanta.
You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Beijing on the map. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.
Travelers visit Atlanta from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The museums range in topic from history to science and art. The country's largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, is in Atlanta as well. It's home to whale sharks, stingrays, and a diversity of marine life. Other museums around town include the Atlanta History Center, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the High Museum of Art, the World of Coca Cola, the David J. Sencer CDC Museum, and the Delta Flight Museum. There are also many monuments and sites including the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.
Beijing is terrific for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Atlanta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Beijing is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.
With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Atlanta makes for a great culinary experience. It's a huge city with a wide selection of restaurants including international, local, and classic southern styles. Fried chicken, biscuits, diner food, and barbecue are all popular. For a classic southern breakfast check out The OK Cafe and for a quintessential Atlanta experience go to The Varsity.
It's hard to distinguish whether Beijing or Atlanta has a better nightlife scene.
The people in Beijing know how to have a good time. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.
The nightlife in Atlanta has something for everybody. The nightlife scene is diverse with trendy bars, dance clubs, and huge music halls. There are a number of neighborhoods that each have their own atmosphere. For some of the best nightlife check out the upscale bars in Buckhead, the music venues in Midtown, the hipster vibe in Edgewood, or the laid-back atmosphere in Virginia Highland.
Atlanta is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.
Atlanta is a world class destination for shoppers. There are a number of great shopping districts around town. Atlantic Station is popular with a movie theater and ice skating. Buckhead has boutique and local vendors and Lenox Square has a large shopping mall.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Beijing. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.
Atlanta is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
Atlanta is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There is no shortage of playgrounds around town, but a highlight of any trip is a visit to the Georgia Aquarium. It's the largest aquarium in the United States and its home to whale sharks, hammerheads, dolphin shows, and more. It is so much more than just an aquarium, and it truly is a not to be missed experience. Also worth a visit are Zoo Atlanta, the Center of Puppetry Arts, Stone Mountain, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, and the Lego Discovery Center. If you have the chance to see the Atlanta Braves play, that's also a rewarding experience.
Beijing offers lots of family activities. The city offers a unique cultural immersion that kids and adults can enjoy. Wander through the Forbidden City or watch your kids be mesmerized by a Chinese acrobatics show. It's also fun to get lost in the Hutongs or test their culinary palates by visiting a snack street.
Both Beijing and Atlanta are nice destinations for a couple's getaway.
Beijing is a good city for couples to visit. The culture, history, and food all make this a stunning place to visit. While romance doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of Beijing, there are shows and fine dining restaurants that couples will enjoy. There are also many luxury hotels with spas and other amenities.
Atlanta is a nice destination for couples. It's a big city, so there are a number of date night activities available such as orchestra concerts, theater shows, and fine dining. The city also has many outdoor areas like Lake Lanier and Piedmont Park. The Georgia Aquarium is world class, and there are other amazing museums around town as well.
Beijing is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Atlanta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.
Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Beijing. The city has many hostels and budget-friendly options. There isn't the backpacker community vibe that you may get in other Asian cities, but if you organize an excursion through your hostel, you're sure to make a few friends along the way.
Atlanta is a good city to visit for backpackers. While it's usually overlooked by backpackers, there are actually a couple of hostels around town and a surprising number of activities worth experiencing. The city's large airport make it a convenient entry point for international travelers.
Beijing and Atlanta are high quality places to visit for students.
Students come from all over to stay in Beijing. Students will enjoy the culture, food, and academic opportunities that the universities offer. There is also a decent nightlife scene and affordable places where students can live.
Many students visit Atlanta. There are a number of universities in town such as Emory, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, and Morehouse College. The city is sprawling, but it's also full of entertainment and activities that students will enjoy.
Beijing is a great city for times when you don't have a car. However, Atlanta is not known for its public transit.
Beijing offers a very effecient public transportation network. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.
Public transit is generally limited in Atlanta. For such a large city, the public transportation system is very limited. MARTA is the main transit authority and there are a few subway lines that cross the city as well as bus routes running around town.
Atlanta is a city with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Beijing is a city with minimal options for its walkability.
Atlanta is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the city are walkable, but most of the sights are spread out and require a car to access. Within neighborhoods, there are a few places that are more pedestrian-friendly such as Downtown, Midtown, Virginia Highlands, and Buckhead.
Beijing is generally not a very walkable city. While parts of the city are fun to explore on foot, the city itself is very large with long blocks that aren't pedestrian-friendly.
For even more information, also check out Is Beijing Worth Visiting? and Is Atlanta Worth Visiting?.
It's fun to spend time in either Beijing or Atlanta. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Beijing due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Beijing, and 2-4 days is enough time in Atlanta.
Families should spend more time in Atlanta than Beijing. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Atlanta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Beijing than Atlanta if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Beijing.
Because Beijing is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
In Atlanta, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
Because Beijing is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
In Atlanta, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Atlanta has to offer.
Beijing is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Beijing has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
Atlanta is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Beijing. Because Beijing is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Atlanta. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Atlanta. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $77, while the average daily cost in Atlanta is $173. 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 Beijing and Atlanta in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Beijing or Atlanta? 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.
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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Atlanta:
Also for Atlanta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Atlanta and Beijing 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Atlanta:
For Atlanta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Atlanta.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Atlanta:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Atlanta, we can see that Atlanta is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing is in Asia and Atlanta is in North America, 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 Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Atlanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atlanta than you might in Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beijing Expensive? and Is Atlanta Expensive?.
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Atlanta. When comparing the sizes of Beijing and Atlanta, 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.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Atlanta and Beijing during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Atlanta because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Beijing is around the same temperature as Atlanta in the summer. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Atlanta fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
In Atlanta, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the summer, Beijing often gets less sunshine than Atlanta. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atlanta receives 271 hours of full sun.
Atlanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually gets more rain in July than Atlanta. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Atlanta. The autumn months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Atlanta this time of year.
In the autumn, Beijing is cooler than Atlanta. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Beijing in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Atlanta averages at about 66°F (19°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Atlanta this time of the year. In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Atlanta during autumn. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Atlanta receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Beijing usually receives less rain than Atlanta. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Atlanta. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Beijing this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Atlanta for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Beijing in the winter. In January, Beijing is generally much colder than Atlanta. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around -4°C (26°F), and Atlanta fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the winter, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Atlanta. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atlanta receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Atlanta. Beijing usually gets less rain in January than Atlanta. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 4.7 inches (120 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Atlanta and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Atlanta in the spring for the activities around the city.
Beijing is cooler than Atlanta in the spring. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Atlanta fluctuates around 65°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Atlanta. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Atlanta during spring. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Atlanta receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Atlanta. In April, Beijing usually receives less rain than Atlanta. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 4.1 inches (104 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Beijing | Atlanta | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) |
Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) |
Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (104 mm) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
Dec | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |