Which place is cheaper, Macao or Chengdu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chengdu or Macao?
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 Macao. 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 Macao?
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.
Macao
Located in China, Macau is a Special Administrative Region and one of the world's most densely populated regions. Until 1999 it remained an overseas territory of Portugal. It sits across from Hong Kong, along the Pearl River Estuary. Because it was so recently relinquished as a colony, it still has a significant amount of visible colonial history. The old city still looks very European, which you can see during a walking tour. Despite this architectural influence, the majority of the city's population is native Chinese.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChengdu $50Macao $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $50, while the average daily cost in Macao is $143. 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 Macao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChengdu $21Macao $114
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChengdu $42Macao $228
Compare Hotels in Chengdu and Macao
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu or Macao? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chengdu $5.91Macao $0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Leshan Giant buddha with Round Airport Transfer: $205
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Panda Base, city central with Round Airport Transfer: $240
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $40
- Arrival Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu City by Sedan: $52
- Arrival Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu by Luxury Sedan: $91
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Chengdu City to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $19
- Chengdu Panda & Giant Buddha Day Tour With Private Transfer: $240
- Chengdu Panda Breeding Base Ticket w/ Optional Transfer or Guide: $20
- Chengdu Private Transfer from Chengdu central to Chengdu Airport (CTU): $82
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Macao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Macao:
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Local Bus (for Two)$1.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Macao?
Prices for flights to both Macao 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 $22Macao $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $56
- Private Sichuan Cooking Class including Local Wet Market Visit: $59
- 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
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $69
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Sichuan Opera Show VIP Seat Tickets w/ Transfer or Dinner: $71
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $76
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $79
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chengdu $16Macao $11
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Agent ticket booking service: Online ticket booking in China: $5.00
- Customize Your China Tour 2024/2025: $5.00
- Sichuan Opera night show Jinjiang theater tickets: $7.15
- local people's opera house experience: $10
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Half Day Tour(Private): $16
- Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan One-Day Private Tour: $17
- Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding e-Ticket: $19
- Private Tour of Chengdu's Top 3 Must-go Attractions w Photo Shoot: $20
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Ticket pre-booking: $20
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $21
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $21
- Panda Breeding Base Tickets Booking: $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Macao
Here are a few typical costs in Macao for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Macau Tower$11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChengdu $3.91Macao -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chengdu and Macao, we can see that Macao is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Macao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Macao 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 Macao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chengdu or Macao?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Macao. When comparing the sizes of Chengdu and Macao, 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.