Which place is cheaper, Darwin or Chengdu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chengdu or Darwin?
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 Darwin. 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 Darwin?
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.
Darwin
Darwin is a tropical city set against the Timor Sea in north central Australia. It is also the capital city of the Northern Territory. Despite being a relatively small city, Darwin is very diverse with residents from all over the world. The city itself has a very relaxed vibe with plenty to do. Visitors can enjoy everything from traditionally Asian style markets to culturally diverse events such as concerts, festivals or art shows.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Sydney, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChengdu $52Darwin $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $52, while the average daily cost in Darwin is $117. 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 Darwin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChengdu $21Darwin $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChengdu $42Darwin $130
Compare Hotels in Chengdu and Darwin
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu or Darwin? 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: Darwin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chengdu $6.09Darwin $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Chengdu City to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $19
- Chengdu to Chengdu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- [Airport Transfer] Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Kosheng City Transfer High reputation for service! : $22
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu International Airport (CTU) to Hotel: $23
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU): $23
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu : $28
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU): $34
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU) to Hotel: $34
- Downtown to Sichuan Opera round way transfer: $39
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $40
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport: $52
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Darwin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Darwin:
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Shuttle to Train Station$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
- Crocodile Jumping Boat Cruise with Transfer from Darwin: $98
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $146
- Darwin to Darwin Int Airport (DRW) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
- From Darwin Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Darwin city: $120
- Private Transfer from Darwin City Hotels to Darwin Cruise Port: $61
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin Airport (DRW): $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Darwin?
Prices for flights to both Darwin 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 $22Darwin $39
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
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals : $55
- 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 Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking: $72
- Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes): $75
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $75
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $76
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda: $79
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Darwin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Darwin.
- Sunset Harbour Cruise with Fish and Chips Dinner: $74
- Darwin Harbor Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $93
- Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise: $103
- Signature four course Sunset Dinner Cruise: $104
- Cape Adieu Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise: $104
- Signature four course Sunset Dinner Cruise: $105
- Sunset 3-Hour Cruise from Darwin with Dinner and Sparkling Wine: $118
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chengdu $16Darwin $16
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Customize Your China Tour 2024/2025: $5.00
- Agent ticket booking service: Online ticket booking in China: $10
- Sichuan Opera night show Jinjiang theater tickets: $13
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Half Day Tour(Private): $16
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $18
- Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan One-Day Private Tour: $18
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $18
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $19
- Panda Breeding Base Private Tour/Ticket Only Option: $20
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Ticket pre-booking: $20
- Private Tour of Chengdu's Top 3 Must-go Attractions w Photo Shoot: $20
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
Tours and Activities in Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
- Darwin Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Crocosaurus Cove General Admission Ticket: $27
- Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Tour: $32
- Darwin Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: $33
- Darwin Harbour Sightseeing Cruise: $34
- 1 Hour Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River: $35
- Jumping Crocodile Experience: $38
- Darwin History and Wartime Experience Tour: $42
- 1-Hour Bombing of Darwin Cruise: $44
- Discover Darwin Harbour: Darwin Harbour Afternoon Cruise: $44
- Discover Darwin Harbour 1 hour Darwin Harbour Cruise: $45
- Darwin Harbour Bombing of Darwin Cruise: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChengdu $4.04Darwin $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Darwin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:
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Evening at a Bar$16
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Glass of Wine$4.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chengdu and Darwin, we can see that Darwin 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 Darwin 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 Darwin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darwin 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 Darwin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chengdu or Darwin?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the sizes of Chengdu and Darwin, 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.