Which place is cheaper, Datong or Chongqing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chongqing or Datong?
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 Datong. 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 Datong?
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.
Datong
If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChongqing $86Datong $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Chongqing is $86, while the average daily cost in Datong is $56. 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 Datong in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChongqing $49Datong $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChongqing $98Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Chongqing and Datong
Looking for a hotel in Chongqing or Datong? 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.Chongqing $19Datong $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
- Dazu Rock Carvings Private Transfer or Tour: $278
- Chongqing Private Round Trip Transfer to Dazu Rock Carvings: $128
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) : $50
- Private Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $43
- Private Transfer from Chongqing hotel to Chongqing Train Station : $27
- Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) private round-trip transfer: $24
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chongqing Railway Station to Hotel: $24
- [Airport Transfer] Chongqing Airport ⇔ Chongqing City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $23
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Hotel: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
- Private Round-Trip Transfer to Hanging Temple: $98
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
- Flexible Private Transfer Service from Datong to Pingyao with Sightseeing Stops: $225
- Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Chongqing or Datong?
Prices for flights to both Datong 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 $24Datong $20
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
- Private Chongqing night tour with dinner hot pot: $170
- Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $193
- Private Chongqing Night View Tour with Hot Pot or Local Dinner: $199
- Chongqing Night view private tour with hot-pot dinner: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chongqing $13Datong $25
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch: $143
- 3-Hour Walking Tour of Chongqing Shancheng (Mountain City) Lane: $65
- All-In-One Chongqing Trendy Spots Private Tour: $220
- Chongqing All-in-One Private Tour With Entire City Night View: $250
- Chongqing City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $196
- Chongqing Half Day Morning Private Tour including Eling Park & Chongqing Museum: $135
- Chongqing Private City Tour Extention: $220
- Chongqing Private Day Tour Of Meet popular Chongqing: $160
- Chongqing Wulong Exploration Private Day Tour With the Lunch: $185
- Chongqing Wulong National Park Private Tour : $280
- Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise and Illuminated Night Tour: $158
- City Highlights Guided Private Tour with Lunch: $208
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket with Optional Guided Service: $22
- Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $26
- YungangGrottoe HangingTemple Private Self-guided Tour by Car: $79
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
- Private Datong Day Tour Arranged by Local Tour Guide Nancy: $129
- Datong Classic Day Tour: $135
- Temples and Grottoes Private Full–Day Tour: $149
- Private Tour: Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery From Datong: $160
- Private city tour Datong Yungang grottoes and Huayan Monastery: $160
- Private Custom Tour: Datong City in One Day: $180
- Datong Private Day Tour to Deshengbu and Zhenchuankou Great Wall with Lunch: $190
- One Day Classic Datong Tour: $215
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChongqing $6.91Datong $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chongqing and Datong, we can see that Chongqing is more expensive. And not only is Datong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Datong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Datong 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 Datong.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chongqing Expensive? and Is Datong Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chongqing or Datong?
Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Datong. When comparing the sizes of Chongqing and Datong, 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.