Which place is cheaper, Canberra or Chengdu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Chengdu or Canberra?
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 Canberra. 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 Canberra?
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.
Canberra
There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChengdu $52Canberra $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $52, while the average daily cost in Canberra is $140. 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 Canberra in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChengdu $21Canberra $86
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChengdu $42Canberra $172
Compare Hotels in Chengdu and Canberra
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu or Canberra? 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: Canberra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chengdu $6.09Canberra $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City: $113
- Private Transfer from Chengdu to Sanxingdui Museum: $143
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport: $52
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Downtown to Airport: $140
- Private Round-Trip Transfer:Chengdu Shuangliu Airport or Chengdu : $67
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu : $28
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU): $23
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU): $34
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu International Airport (CTU) to Hotel: $23
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU) to Hotel: $34
- Downtown to Sichuan Opera round way transfer: $39
- Downtown to Leshan or Mount Emei round way transfer for 2-day service: $251
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra
Also for Canberra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Canberra Airport (CBR) to Canberra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Canberra Int'l Airport to Canberra - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Canberra Transfer: Airport（CBR）to/from City Center: $100
- Canberra to Canberra Int Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Guided Tour of Floriade Festival with Transfers: $122
- Private Transfer from Canberra Airport CBR to Eden Cruise Port : $84
- Private Transfer from Canberra city hotels to Eden Cruise Port: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Canberra?
Prices for flights to both Canberra 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
-
Food Meals for one dayChengdu $22Canberra $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Eat with Locals Chengdu Dinner Tour : $61
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $75
- Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes): $75
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $76
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda: $79
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $81
- Hot Pot Dinner Sichuan Opera and Local tea tasting: $89
- Half-Day Dandan Noodles Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $100
- Street Gems Guided Food Tour with Beer and Tastings: $106
Typical Food Prices in Canberra
For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch$17
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chengdu $16Canberra $18
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
- Chinese Traditional Massage Experience In Chengdu: $90
- Private Chengdu Panda Base and Sichuan Cuisine Museum Day Tour: $120
- Private Chengdu day Tour of panda base with Leshan giant Buddha: $298
- Private Full Day Chengdu Panda Base and Jinsha Site Museum Tour: $136
- Private Leshan Buddha Day Tour with Local Market visiting: $160
- 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 Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour with the Lunch: $246
- 1-Day Chengdu tour with Panda Base, Renmin Park,Wenshu Temple and Hot Pot Lunch: $193
- 1-Day Dujiangyan Self-Guided Tour: Panda Volunteer and Water Irrigation System: $123
Tours and Activities in Canberra
For Canberra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Australians Tour | 3pm Daily: $14
- Museum Highlights Tour | 1pm Daily: $14
- Building + Architecture Tour | 10am Daily: $14
- Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour: $15
- Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour in Canberra: $31
- Badass Women of The Women Behind the Capital Tour: $41
- Spies in the Capital: Women in Espionage Walking Tour: $41
- Women's History Walking Tour with Local Guide: $42
- LGBTQIA+ History Walking Tour: $42
- Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines: $45
- Best of Wildlife Tour: $92
- Best of Wildlife and Birds Tour: $104
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayChengdu $4.04Canberra $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Canberra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:
-
Drinks at a Bar$9.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra
Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Indulgence Wine Tasting with Matched Elements for 2 - Canberra: $91
- Canberra Brewery and Beer Tour in 3 Hours: $102
- Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $126
- CanBEERa Explorer: Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $129
- From Winery, Distillery, & Tasting Tour with Lunch: $153
- Canberra Wine Tour: $167
- Full-Day Canberra Brewery, Wineries & Distillery tour /w lunch: $171
- Premium Wine Tasting Experience and 2-Course Lunch: $188
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chengdu and Canberra, we can see that Canberra 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 Canberra 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 Canberra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Canberra 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 Canberra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chengdu or Canberra?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Chengdu and Canberra, 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.