Should you visit Beijing or London?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Beijing and London can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
Which city is cheaper, London or Beijing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $69, while the average daily cost in London is $202. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Beijing and London in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Beijing is $70. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $252 in London For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Beijing travelers spend around $18 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food in London costs travelers about $40 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Beijing $18
London $40
Typical Food prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
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Online Cooking Class:
$25
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Path Hutong Food Tour:
$30
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Kung fu Show and Peking Roasted Duck Dinner:
$58
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Private Temple of Heaven Walking Tour with Peking Duck Dinner or Kung Fu Show:
$62
-
Acrobatic Show w/ Peking Duck Dinner Private:
$68
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Beijing Historical Center with Peking Opera and Duck Dinner:
$69
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3 hours Morning or Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street and Tea Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Tour:
$69
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Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour:
$69
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4-Hour Peking Duck Dinner & Kung Fu Show Night:
$80
-
Old Beijing Dinner Tour:
$80
-
Vegetarian / Peking Duck / Hotpot Dinner with Kungfu Show Private Tour:
$90
-
Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing:
$90
Typical Food prices in London
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traveling Spoon Nepalese Momos Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Moroccan Couscous Dinner in Shoreditch:
$50
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Modern British Dinner at Chef's Home in East London:
$62
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Dinner with Filmmakers & Filmmaking Experience in London:
$74
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3-Hour Secret British Food Tour:
$82
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Private Cooking Class with a London Cookbook Author:
$87
-
BYOB Pizza Workshop Supper Club:
$91
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3-Hour Thames Jazz Dinner Cruise:
$92
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4-Hour East End Food Tour:
$98
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Evening City & Food Tour (non-guided):
$110
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London Half-Day Food Tour: International Foods of Soho:
$111
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Soho International Food Tour:
$113
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $6.83 per day to get around in Beijing.
London's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $28 per person, per day on transportation in London.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
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Private 2-Day Xi'an Tour From Your Beijing's hotel Including Transfer Service:
$1,680
-
Private Day Trip Of Xi'an From Your Beijing's hotel Including Transfer Service:
$1,100
-
Private Day tour of Xi'an From Beijing Including Transfer Service:
$1,000
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Beijing to Xi'an See Terracotta Warriors with Bullet Train Round Trip Transfer:
$564
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3-Days Classic Beijing Sightseeing Tour with Layover Airport Transfer Option:
$560
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All-Inclusive Tianjin Port Transfer with Classical Beijing 2-day Tour:
$540
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2-Day Customizable Beijing Highlight Tour with Airport Transfer Option:
$520
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Private 3-Day Beijing Highlights Tour with Tianjin Port Transfer:
$514
-
Simatai Great Wall & Beijing City 4-Day Private Tour Package + Airport Transfer:
$513
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Chongli Ski Resorts Private Transfer from Beijing City:
$480
-
4 Days Beijing Sightseeing with Airport (Train Station) Transfer:
$455
-
2 Days Beijing to Feng Ning Ba Shang Grassland tour with private transfer:
$448
Typical Local Transportation prices in London
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in London:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Accommodation to London St. Pancras Station - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
-
Airport and venues transfer 3:
$1,173
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All London Airports Round-trip & Return Private Transfer to Southeast London:
$217
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All London Airports Round-trip & Return Private Transfer to Southwest London:
$217
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All London Airports Roundtrip - PrivateTransfer to London Hotel Including Return Trip:
$112
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Arrival Private Transfers from Airport LCY to London City in Luxury Van:
$109
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Arrival Private Transfers from London Airport LCY to London in Business Car:
$89
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Arrival transfer from Heathrow to London Hotel:
$53
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Arrival, Departure or Round Trip Private Transfer: Central London to Southampton Cruise Port:
$250
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Arrive & Depart in Style - Luxury Private Transfer - Southampton to London:
$381
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Bath Day Trip From London With Private Transfer in Range Rover:
$1,134
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Bus Transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick Airports:
$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Beijing or London?
Prices for flights to both London 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $21 per person, per day in Beijing. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in London can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $36 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two
$9.26
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Two Opera Tickets
$66
-
Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)
$11
-
Forbidden City (for 2)
$19
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Forbidden City Tickets
$19
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City
$12
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1 Day Beijing Badaling Great Wall with 30-Minute Helicopter Tour:
$614
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1 Day Beijing No Shopping Tour with Peking Roast Duck:
$226
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1 Day Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Tour:
$29
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1 Day Old Beijing City Tour .Forbidden City,Hutong,Temple of Heaven:
$163
-
1 Day Romantic Tour in Oriental Provence Lavender Manor and Mutianyu Great Wall:
$208
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1 Day Tour : Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town:
$239
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1 Day Tour Badaling Great Wall and Badaling Ski Resort:
$249
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1 Day Tour Mutianyu Great Wall & Chunhuiyuan Hot Springs:
$224
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1 Day Tour: Badaling Great Wall and Jiuhua Hot Spring:
$167
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1 day Mutianyu Great Wall Nonshopping bus tour:
$51
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1-Day Badaling Great Wall Helicopter Tour with Sacred Way & Bird's Nest:
$714
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1-Day Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs Tour with Sacred Way from Beijing:
$212
Typical Entertainment prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in London
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.
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Royal Canadian Regiment Museum: Historic Wolseley Barracks Tour:
$5.64
-
Shakespeare's Italy Virtual Experience:
$6.90
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59-Minutes British Museum Audio-guided Tour:
$8.71
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Banqueting House Entrance Ticket:
$9.22
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59-Minutes National Gallery Audio-guided Tour:
$9.95
-
The Clink Prison Museum Admission Tickets:
$11
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12 Angry Guests: The Online Jury Experience:
$11
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British Museum Guided Tour:
$12
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Private 90-Minute London Kick-Start Tour with a Local:
$13
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Virtual Guided Tour of London's Off the Beaten Track Areas:
$14
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Guided Tour of Handel House:
$14
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London Old City Highlights Walking Tour in Spanish:
$14
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Beijing may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $10 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In London, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $17.
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
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Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing:
$138
-
5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing:
$178
-
Private Wonderful Beijing Bar Crawl Tour:
$195
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Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit:
$228
Sample the Local Flavors in London
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in London:
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5-Hour Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
-
Central London 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
-
Central Daily 5-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
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The Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
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Camden Pub Crawl:
$14
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The London Pub Crawl - Shoreditch:
$14
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Camden Pub Crawl:
$20
-
3-Hour Pub Tour:
$21
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The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$28
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2-Hour Historic Pub Tour:
$28
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London Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour:
$28
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Sipsmith Distillery Tour and Complimentary Tasting:
$35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and London, we can see that London 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 London is in Europe, 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Beijing.
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