Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Beijing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beijing or Vancouver?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Vancouver 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.
Where Should I go: Beijing or Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeijing $77Vancouver $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $77, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $142. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeijing $39Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeijing $78Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Beijing and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Beijing or Vancouver? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beijing $7.63Vancouver $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.71
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Train from Airport for Two$6.90
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Taxi to Hotel$8.28
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2 Metro Passes$2.21
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Metro$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 30pax: $850
- Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 15pax: $490
- Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 5pax: $380
- Beijing Layover Tour with Hutong, Temple of Heaven and Airport Transfer: $296
- Beijing to Zun Hua Explore Qing Emperor's Tombs By Car Transfer : $285
- 1 Day Pass for Universal Beijing and Private Transfer Package: $265
- Private Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace with A Guide: $259
- Beijing Great Wall and Imperial Palace Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $256
- 1-Day Bejing Layover Tour:Mutianyu Great Wall,Forbidden City & Airport Transfers: $250
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise port to Mutianyu Great Wall of China : $221
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing with stop at Great Wall : $221
- Beijing Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 pax: $220
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.40
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.78
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port to Vancouver by SUV: $120
- Arrival Private Transfer: Vancouver Airport YVR to Vancouver in Luxury Car: $163
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $93
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $186
- Canada Place Cruise Port: Transfer to Vancouver hotels: $428
- Canada Place Port to Vancouver Airport(YVR) - Departure Transfer : $55
- Departure Private Transfer: Vancouver to Vancouver Airport YVR in Luxury Car: $163
- Departure Private Transfer: Vancouver to Vancouver Airport YVR in Luxury SUV: $133
- Maximize Your Cruise Adventure: Vancouver Tour & Transfer: $292
- Mount Washington to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Transfer: $93
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Beijing or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBeijing $21Vancouver $31
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.83
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Hot Pot Dinner$6.90
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.76
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Watermelon$1.93
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$16
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Two Popsicles$0.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef : $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Deal 20% off Beijing Nango HotSpring Water World with Dinner: $38
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $60
- 3 hours Morning or Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street and Tea Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Tour: $69
- Mogolian Hot Pot Dinner with no limit soft drink and local beer .: $70
- Old Beijing Dinner Tour: $80
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $80
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $94
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
- 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
- Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet: $153
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
- Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beijing $24Vancouver $36
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$8.28
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Two Opera Tickets$59
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.66
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Forbidden City (for 2)$17
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Forbidden City Tickets$17
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Day Mutianyu Great Wall and Beijing Airport Drop off Tour: $235
- All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour: $188
- All Inclusive Private Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour: $204
- Beijing 2 Summer Palace Private Garden Tour: $140
- Beijing Art Tour: Seeing Fantastic Ming Murals at Fa Hai Temple : $220
- Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $100
- Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
- China Art Museum and 798 Art Zone Private Tour: $137
- Classic One Day Beijing Tour: $240
- Forbidden City Tour : $110
- Full Day Private Tour Incredible Beijing City Highlights: $179
- Mutianyu Great Wall And Ming Tomb Private One Day Tour: $205
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Vancouver self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.75
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.82
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Fort Langley: a Film & Television Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.19
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
- Historic Walking Tours of Vancouver with Then & Now Images!: $6.68
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.68
- Vancouver Downtown: Espionage Adventure Outdoor Escape Game: $6.99
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeijing $12Vancouver $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $99
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Private Tour-Drum Tower, Hutong Food Taste and Local Brewery Beer: $150
- Full Day Private Chateau Changyu Wine Tour from Beijing: $162
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $139
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $165
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Vancouver, we can see that Vancouver 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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vancouver 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 Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beijing or Vancouver?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Vancouver. When comparing the sizes of Beijing and Vancouver, 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.
When is the best time to visit Beijing or Vancouver?
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.
Should I visit Beijing or Vancouver in the Summer?
Both Vancouver and Beijing during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
In the summer, Beijing is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beijing in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Vancouver averages at about 18°C (64°F).
In Vancouver, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the summer, Beijing often gets less sunshine than Vancouver. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually gets more rain in July than Vancouver. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeijing 27°C (80°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Vancouver in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Vancouver. Many travelers come to Beijing for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Beijing is generally a little warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (56°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during autumn. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Beijing usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeijing 14°C (56°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Vancouver in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Vancouver. Many visitors come to Beijing in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Vancouver can be very cold during winter. Beijing can get quite cold in the winter. Beijing is much colder than Vancouver in the winter. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around -4°C (26°F) in January, and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the winter, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Vancouver. Beijing usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeijing -4°C (26°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Vancouver in the Spring?
Both Vancouver and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Beijing is a little warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beijing in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Vancouver averages at about 9°C (49°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during spring. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In April, Beijing usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeijing 14°C (57°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Beijing
| Beijing | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.