A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Benxi vs. Katoomba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Benxi or Katoomba?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Benxi and Katoomba 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: Benxi or Katoomba?

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Benxi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Benxi is $97, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $139. 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 Benxi and Katoomba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Benxi $48
    Katoomba $80
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Benxi $96
    Katoomba $160
Compare Hotels in Benxi and Katoomba

Looking for a hotel in Benxi or Katoomba? 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 Benxi


Hotels in Katoomba


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: Katoomba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Benxi $32
    Katoomba $51

Is it cheaper to fly into Benxi or Katoomba?

Prices for flights to both Katoomba and Benxi 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
    Benxi $31
    Katoomba $18

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Benxi $7.45
    Katoomba $55

Tours and Activities in Katoomba

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

  • Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $34
  • Blue Mountains BarNSW Local Produce Tasting Experience: $40
  • Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $68
  • Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $69
  • Blue Mountains: Private Guided Interpretive Hiking Tour: $86
  • Half-Day Abseiling Adventure in Blue Mountains National Park: $88
  • Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $103
  • Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $105
  • Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $114
  • Small-Group Blue Mountains Tour with Bush Walks and Featherdale Wildlife Park: $123
  • 4Hrs at Wolgan Valley Birdwatching Experience: $137
  • Truffle Hunt and Taste Experience in Oberon, NSW Australia: $154

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Benxi $7.85
    Katoomba -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Benxi and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Benxi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Benxi is in Asia and Katoomba is in Pacific, 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 Benxi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Benxi 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba than you might in Benxi.

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


Which is Bigger, Benxi or Katoomba?

Benxi has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Benxi and Katoomba, 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 Benxi or Katoomba?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Katoomba is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Benxi has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Benxi or Katoomba in the Summer?

Both Katoomba and Benxi are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Katoomba for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Benxi is generally around the same temperature as Katoombain January. Daily temperatures in Benxi average around 25°C (78°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Katoomba. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. Benxi usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during summer. Benxi gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. It's quite rainy in Benxi. In July, Benxi usually receives more rain than Katoombain January. Benxi gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Benxi 25°C (78°F) 
    Katoomba 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit Benxi or Katoomba in the Autumn?

Both Katoomba and Benxi during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Katoomba in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Benxi is much colder than Katoomba in the autumn. The daily temperature in Benxi averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Benxi. In the autumn, Benxi often gets more sunshine than Katoombain April. Benxi gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun.

Benxi usually gets less rain in October than Katoombain April. Benxi gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Benxi 11°C (52°F) 
    Katoomba 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Benxi or Katoomba in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Benxi and Katoomba. Furthermore, most visitors come to Katoomba for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Benxi can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Benxi is much colder than Katoomba. Typically, the winter temperatures in Benxi in January average around -10°C (14°F), and Katoomba averages at about 11°C (51°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. Benxi usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during winter. Benxi gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Benxi usually receives less rain than Katoombain July. Benxi gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Benxi -10°C (14°F) 
    Katoomba 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Benxi or Katoomba in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Benxi as well as Katoomba. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Katoomba because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Benxi is generally much colder than Katoombain October. Daily temperatures in Benxi average around 11°C (51°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Benxi this time of the year. In the spring, Benxi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Katoombain October. Benxi gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun.

Benxi usually gets less rain in April than Katoombain October. Benxi gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Benxi 11°C (51°F) 
    Katoomba 18°C (64°F)

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Benxi

Benxi Katoomba
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -10°C (14°F) 9 mm (0.4 in) 24°C (74°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 23°C (74°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Mar 2°C (35°F) 17 mm (0.7 in) 22°C (71°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Apr 11°C (51°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 18°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 14°C (58°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 12°C (53°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 25°C (78°F) 211 mm (8.3 in) 11°C (51°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Aug 25°C (76°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 12°C (54°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Sep 18°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 42 mm (1.6 in)
Oct 11°C (52°F) 51 mm (2 in) 18°C (64°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Nov 2°C (35°F) 24 mm (0.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Dec -7°C (20°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 23°C (73°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)