A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chengdu vs. Coffs Harbour for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chengdu or Coffs Harbour?

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 Coffs Harbour. 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 Coffs Harbour?

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.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is in New South Wales between Brisbane and Sydney. Historically, Coffs Harbour has been a popular vacation destination among families, particularly Australian families. Most visitors today are families that are carrying on a longstanding tradition and bringing their children to the holiday destination of their childhood. You'll also find backpackers who spend up to a week here, dividing the trip between Sydney and Brisbane. The area has a well established tourist infrastructure that is not as trendy as that in Byron Bay, but it remains a wonderful community to visit if you're not looking for the party atmosphere.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Coffs Harbour or Chengdu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $50, while the average daily cost in Coffs Harbour is $135. 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 Coffs Harbour in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chengdu $21
    Coffs Harbour $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chengdu $42
    Coffs Harbour $126
Compare Hotels in Chengdu and Coffs Harbour

Looking for a hotel in Chengdu or Coffs Harbour? 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 Chengdu


Hotels in Coffs Harbour


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: Coffs Harbour Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chengdu $5.93
    Coffs Harbour $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:

  • [Airport Transfer] Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Kosheng City Transfer High reputation for service! : $22
  • Sichuan Face Changing Opera With Door to Door Private Transfer: $52
  • Roundtrip Transfer: Chengdu to Giant Buddha/Panda/Dujiangyan: $55
  • Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City: $113
  • Private Transfer to Leshan Giant Buddha: $110
  • Private Transfer from Chengdu to Mount Emei and Stops at Leshan Giant Buddha: $160
  • Private Transfer from Chengdu hotel to Chengdu Train Station: $27
  • Private Transfer from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport to Chengdu Hotel: $52
  • Private Transfer from Chengdu City Hotels to Airport: $35
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Train Stations: $23
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU): $23
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU): $34

Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Coffs Harbour?

Prices for flights to both Coffs Harbour 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 day
    Chengdu $22
    Coffs Harbour $51

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chengdu $16
    Coffs Harbour $41

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Coffs Harbour

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Coffs Harbour's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Surfing Museum (for 2)
    $7.14

Tours and Activities in Coffs Harbour

For Coffs Harbour, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Daytime Kayak Eco Tour of New South Wales: $40
  • Sunset Kayak Eco Tour with Marine Scientist: $40
  • Coffs Harbour Whale Watch Experience: $63
  • Sunset Experience: $77
  • Rainforest & Waterfall Experience: $126
  • Coastal Adventure: $126

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chengdu $3.93
    Coffs Harbour $8.34


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chengdu and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Chengdu or Coffs Harbour?

Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Coffs Harbour. When comparing the sizes of Chengdu and Coffs Harbour, 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.