A Travel Price Comparison for China Chongqing vs. Chengdu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chongqing or Chengdu?

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 Chengdu. 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 Chengdu?

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.

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.

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 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.


Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Chongqing?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Chongqing is $87, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $51. 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 Chengdu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chongqing $49
    Chengdu $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chongqing $98
    Chengdu $42
Compare Hotels in Chongqing and Chengdu

Looking for a hotel in Chongqing or Chengdu? 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 Chongqing


Hotels in Chengdu


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chongqing $19
    Chengdu $5.97

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:

  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG): $22
  • Chongqing Jiangbei Airport Chauffeur Service, Chongqing Airport Transfer, Pickup: $50
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier to Hotel: $39
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Hotel: $22
  • Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chongqing Railway Station to Hotel: $24
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $39
  • Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport CKG: $25
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) : $50
  • Private Transfer: Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier to Airport (CKG) : $43

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: $192
  • 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 Panda & Giant Buddha Day Tour With Private Transfer: $240
  • Chengdu Private Transfer from Chengdu central to Chengdu Airport (CTU): $81
  • Chengdu Shuangliu Airport Chauffeur Service, Chengdu Airport Transfer, Pickup: $53
  • Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Transfer to Downtown Hotel: $32
  • Chengdu to Xi'an/Chongqing Bullet Train Ticket with Transfer: $56
  • Departure Transfer from City Hotel to Chengdu Railway Station: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Chongqing or Chengdu?

Prices for flights to both Chengdu 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Chongqing $25
    Chengdu $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.

  • Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner: $115
  • Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner: $158
  • Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $193

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
  • 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
  • Half Day Chengdu Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking: $72
  • Half-Day Chengdu Farm Cooking Class & Spice Market Exploration: $75
  • Half-Day Chengdu Courtyard Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $80
  • Half-Day Private Sichuan Hot-Pot Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
  • Half-Day Sichuan Cooking Class Experience in Chengdu: $84

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chongqing $13
    Chengdu $16

Tours and Activities in Chongqing

Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3-Hour Walking Tour of Chongqing Shancheng (Mountain City) Lane: $65
  • Private Chongqing Day Tour: Panda, E'ling Park, Three Gorges Museum: $99
  • Chongqing Half Day Morning Private Tour including Eling Park & Chongqing Museum: $135
  • Private Chongqing Illuminated Night Tour : $138
  • Private Amazing Chongqing City Day Tour in Your Way: $139
  • 1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch: $143
  • Half Day Afternoon Private Tour: General Stilwell Museum, Arhat Temple, Panda: $156
  • 1-Day Chongqing City Private Tour with the Hot pot Lunch: $157
  • Best of Chongqing One Day Tour: Stilwell Museum, Arhat Temple, Eling Park, Panda: $157
  • Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise and Illuminated Night Tour: $158
  • Full Day Chongqing Highlights Private Tour: $180
  • Full-Day Private Tour of Chongqing Highlights: $180

Tours and Activities in Chengdu

Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • local people's opera house experience: $10
  • Chengdu Panda Research Base Half Day Tour(Private): $16
  • Skip the Line: Best Sichuan Opera Show in Chengdu Ticket: $19
  • Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
  • Panda Breeding Center (Panda Base) & Taoism temple tour: $28
  • Chengdu Sichuan Opera Evening Show Ticket-Shu Feng Yan Yun : $29
  • Sichuan Opera Night show Tickets at sichuan opera Museum : $30
  • Private Half-Day Walking Tour Unveil Night Life of Chengdu: $30
  • Sichuan Opera Tickets Booking: $33
  • Private Bamboo Bicycle Tour in Chengdu: $41
  • Small Group Half Day Chengdu Panda Breeding Center Tour: $42
  • Private Chengdu Dining Experience in Chilli Cool House: $46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chongqing $6.95
    Chengdu $3.96


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


Which is Bigger, Chongqing or Chengdu?

Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 0% larger than the population of Chengdu. When comparing the sizes of Chongqing and Chengdu, 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.