Which place is cheaper, Canberra or Chongqing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chongqing 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 Chongqing 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: Chongqing or Canberra?
Chongqing
Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.
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 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChongqing $89Canberra $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Chongqing is $89, 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 Chongqing and Canberra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChongqing $50Canberra $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChongqing $100Canberra $172
Compare Hotels in Chongqing and Canberra
Looking for a hotel in Chongqing 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chongqing $19Canberra $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
- [Airport Transfer] Chongqing Airport ⇔ Chongqing City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $23
- Transfer betwn hotel airport and railway station (Chongqing): $116
- Private Transfer:From Jiangbei Airport to Chongqing downtown: $16
- Private One Way Transfer (English Service) between Airport & Hotel & Cruise Port: $61
- Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport CKG: $39
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $39
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chongqing: $24
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chongqing Railway Station to Hotel: $24
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) to Hotel: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Hotel: $22
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier to Hotel: $39
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $40
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 Chongqing or Canberra?
Prices for flights to both Canberra and Chongqing 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 dayChongqing $25Canberra $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.
- Chongqing Local Flavors Walking Food Tour: $98
- 4 Hour Walking Historical Local Food Tour: $110
- CHONGQING:Strolling through the city(Include dinner): $127
- Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner: $158
- Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner: $183
- Private Chongqing Night View Tour with Hot Pot or Local Dinner: $199
Typical Food Prices in Canberra
For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$17
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chongqing $14Canberra $18
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dazu Rock Carvings Private Day Tour With the baoding Mountain and Beishan site: $251
- 1-Day Chongqing City Private Tour with the Hot pot Lunch: $157
- 1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch: $143
- 3-Hour Walking Tour of Chongqing Shancheng (Mountain City) Lane: $65
- 4D3N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Chongqing to Yichang: $634
- 5D4N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Yichang to Chongqing: $634
- All-In-One Chongqing Trendy Spots Private Tour: $220
- All-in-one Chongqing Night view private tour: $150
- Best of Chongqing One Day Tour: Stilwell Museum, Arhat Temple, Eling Park, Panda: $157
- City Night Cruise and Local Snacks Tour: $218
- Chongqing Dazu stone carving day tour: $192
- Chongqing Half day Private Tour With Entire City Night View: $220
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChongqing $7.09Canberra $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Canberra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:
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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 Chongqing and Canberra, we can see that Canberra is more expensive. And not only is Chongqing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chongqing 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 Chongqing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chongqing 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 Chongqing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chongqing Expensive? and Is Canberra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chongqing or Canberra?
Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Chongqing 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.