Which place is cheaper, Alice Springs or Chengdu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chengdu or Alice Springs?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chengdu and Alice Springs. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Chengdu or Alice Springs?
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
Alice Springs
Alice Springs is in the middle of Central Australia and is most famous as a base for exploring the famous rock, Uluru. Alice Springs itself has grown dramatically from what was once a small outpost. The tourist boom began in the early 1980s and the population is now somewhere around 28,000. The city now has all of the necessary facilities to cater to the influx of tourists who swing through to see Uluru. The town is 1500km from Darwin, which is the closest major city. Adelaide is just as far to the south. It's remote location means that costs can be higher than they are elsewhere in Australia. Expect to pay more for anything from fruits and vegetables to clothing and souvenirs. When making a reservation for a hotel, do note that the rating scale differs from elsewhere in Australia or in most western countries. The ratings come from the amenities available and have little to do with the actual room quality.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChengdu $50Alice Springs $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $50, while the average daily cost in Alice Springs is $95. 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 Chengdu and Alice Springs in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChengdu $21Alice Springs $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChengdu $42Alice Springs $100
Compare Hotels in Chengdu and Alice Springs
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu or Alice Springs? 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: Alice Springs Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chengdu $5.93Alice Springs $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Downtown to Leshan or Mount Emei round way transfer for 2-day service: $251
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 40 pax: $230
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Panda Base, city central with Round Airport Transfer: $192
- Downtown to Mountain Emei round way transfer for one day service: $189
- Downtown to Leshan round way transfer for one day service: $172
- Private Transfer from Chengdu to Mount Emei and Stops at Leshan Giant Buddha: $160
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Downtown to Dujiangyan round way transfer: $117
- Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City: $113
- Private Transfer to Leshan Giant Buddha: $110
- Arrival Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu by Luxury Sedan: $91
- Chengdu Private Transfer from Chengdu central to Chengdu Airport (CTU): $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alice Springs
Also for Alice Springs, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Uluru to Alice Springs or Alice to Uluru 1-Way Luxe Transfer: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Alice Springs?
Prices for flights to both Alice Springs and Chengdu 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 dayChengdu $22Alice Springs $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Sichuan Opera Face-Changing Show And Hotpot Dinner Evening Tour: $40
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $56
- Chengdu evening food tour by local guide: $60
- Half day Chengdu Dumpling making Cooking Class: Make from Scratch: $62
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals : $65
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half-Day Dandan Noodles Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $70
- Sichuan Opera Show VIP Seat Tickets w/ Transfer or Dinner: $71
- Half Day Chengdu Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking: $72
- Half-Day Private Sichuan Hot-Pot Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alice Springs
For Alice Springs, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From Day Trip to Uluru with BBQ Dinner: $219
- Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs Including BBQ Dinner: $233
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chengdu $16Alice Springs $14
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chengdu Leshan Buddha and Drop off off Railway Station Day Tour: $226
- Private Chengdu Panda Base and Sichuan Cuisine Museum Day Tour: $120
- 1 Day Wolong Panda Nature Reserve Tour: $218
- 1 day Chengdu City Highlights Mini Group tour: $102
- 1-Day Chengdu Ancient History and Culture City Tour: $179
- 1-Day Chengdu Cultural Discovery:Jinsha,Shu Brocade Museum & Dufu Cottage Tour : $189
- 1-Day Chengdu Cultural Tour: Ancient Poets and Temples: $189
- 1-Day Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour With the Lunch and Boat tour: $242
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha GROUP Tour: $144
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour with the Lunch: $246
- 1-Day Chengdu Private Tour: Dujiangyan Ancient River Irrigation and Temple Site : $213
- 1-Day Dujiangyan Self-Guided Tour: Panda Volunteer and Water Irrigation System: $123
Tours and Activities in Alice Springs
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Alice Springs.
- Skip the Line: Alice Springs School of the Air Guided Tour Ticket: $9.25
- West MacDonnell Ranges: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $9.99
- Outback Adventure: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $9.99
- Australia’s Red Centre: A Self-Guided West Macs Driving Tour: $9.99
- Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket: $26
- Alice Springs Desert Park Nocturnal Tour: $28
- Alice Springs Camel Tour: $59
- West MacDonnell Ranges Half day Tour -Small Group: $92
- A Town Like Alice: Half-Day Tour of Alice Springs: $95
- From Alice Spring: West MacDonnell Ranges Half-Day Tour: $97
- Alice Springs Highlights Tour : $109
- Historical Alice Tour: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChengdu $3.93Alice Springs $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Alice Springs
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Alice Springs:
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Glass of Wine in Alice Springs$4.54
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chengdu and Alice Springs, we can see that Alice Springs is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chengdu is in Asia and Alice Springs 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 Chengdu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chengdu 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 Alice Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alice Springs than you might in Chengdu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chengdu Expensive? and Is Alice Springs Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chengdu or Alice Springs?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Alice Springs. When comparing the sizes of Chengdu and Alice Springs, 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.
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.