Which place is cheaper, Sydney or Chengdu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chengdu or Sydney?
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 Sydney. 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 Sydney?
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.
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChengdu $51Sydney $283
The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $51, while the average daily cost in Sydney is $283. 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 Sydney in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChengdu $21Sydney $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChengdu $42Sydney $212
Compare Hotels in Chengdu and Sydney
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu or Sydney? 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: Sydney Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chengdu $6.06Sydney $15
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
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 40 pax: $230
- 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 Private Transfer from Chengdu central to Chengdu Airport (CTU): $83
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport Chauffeur Service, Chengdu Airport Transfer, Pickup: $53
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
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Taxi Ride$13
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Taxi to Airport$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Airport Transfer From Sydney Airport to Hotels and Home: $295
- Airport Transfer From Sydney Airport to Hotels and Home: $165
- Airport Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney by Business Car: $113
- Airport transfers and shuttle bus - home/hotels: $207
- Arrival Transfer from Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney city by Sedan: $98
- Arrival Transfer from Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney in Luxury Van : $146
- Departure Transfer: Sydney to Sydney Airport SYD in Business Car: $113
- Departure Transfer: Sydney to Sydney Airport SYD in Luxury Van: $125
- Featherdale Wildlife Park with Exclusive Private Transfers: $161
- From Sydney Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Sydney: $35
- From Sydney Hotels - Hotel Transfer to Airport: $195
- Hunter Valley Balloon Flight with Sydney CBD Transfer: $344
Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Sydney?
Prices for flights to both Sydney 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 $22Sydney $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals : $55
- Eat with Locals Chengdu Dinner Tour : $62
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes): $75
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $75
- Half-Day Chengdu Farm Cooking Class & Spice Market Exploration: $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
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $82
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
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Tea$2.69
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Lunch Special$10
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Food/Drink Coogie Beach$10
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Meat Pies$3.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $61
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $61
- Kids Cooking Classes: $66
- Sydney Harbour: Latin Fiesta Dinner Cruise: $72
- Latino Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $73
- 4-hour Vivid Latin Fiesta Dinner Cruise Shared Experience: $73
- Tall Ship Harbour Twilight Dinner Cruise: $75
- Harbour Dinner Cruise with 3, 4 or 6-Course Menu: $79
- Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
- Sydney Food Tour: A Taste of Chinatown: $82
- Christmas Eve Dinner Cruise: $84
- Sydney Harbour Starlight Dinner Cruise: $101
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chengdu $16Sydney $32
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: $10
- Sichuan Opera night show Jinjiang theater tickets: $13
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Half Day Tour(Private): $16
- Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan One-Day Private Tour: $18
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $18
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $18
- Panda Breeding Base Private Tour/Ticket Only Option: $19
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $19
- Private Tour of Chengdu's Top 3 Must-go Attractions w Photo Shoot: $20
- Skip the Line: Sichuan Opera Chengdu Ticket: $21
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
- Panda Base Tour/Ticket Only Option: $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Theatre Show$30
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Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$31
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Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$128
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Powerhouse Museum$10
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Spirits of Sydney - Self Guided Ghost Tour of the Rocks Area: $5.00
- Sydney Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Catch an Art Thief Sydney Tour and Exploration Game: $9.09
- Sydney Quest Experience: From Prison to Freedom Land : $11
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Razor Gangs True Crime Tour: $17
- Australian National Maritime Museum: See It All Ticket: $17
- Australian National Maritime Museum Entry Ticket - See it All: $17
- Historical Guided Walking Tour of Glebe: $17
- Allianz Stadium Guided Walking Tour: $17
- Self-Guided Walking Tour in Hidden Trails of The Rocks of Sydney: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChengdu $4.01Sydney $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
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Wine$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Haunted Pub Tour with Local Guide: $27
- The Ultimate Halloween Bar Crawl in Sydney's CBD!: $31
- Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $31
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl: $31
- Sydney Cellar Door - Old Vine Expressions Wine Tasting: $49
- Urban Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Cheese Platter: $59
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting: $59
- Balmain Pub Walking Tour: $81
- Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $87
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $108
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $117
- Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting: $128
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chengdu and Sydney, we can see that Sydney 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 Sydney 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chengdu or Sydney?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Chengdu. When comparing the sizes of Chengdu and Sydney, 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.