Which place is cheaper, Osaka or Chongqing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chongqing or Osaka?
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 Osaka. 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 Osaka?
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.
Osaka
The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.
Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChongqing $89Osaka $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Chongqing is $89, while the average daily cost in Osaka is $94. 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 Osaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChongqing $50Osaka $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChongqing $100Osaka $98
Compare Hotels in Chongqing and Osaka
Looking for a hotel in Chongqing or Osaka? 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: Osaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chongqing $19Osaka $15
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 Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $43
- Private Transfer from Chongqing hotel to Chongqing Train Station : $27
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) : $60
- 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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Osaka
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:
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Subway$8.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka
Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Transfer between Universal Studios Japan and Osaka: $103
- Airport Transfer from Osaka city to Kansai airport: $72
- Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Car: $195
- Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Van: $241
- From Narita Airport Transfer Service: $18
- Itami Airport (ITM): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kyoto: $200
- Itami Airport (ITM): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Nara: $216
- Itami Airport (ITM): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Osaka: $87
- Itami Airport (ITM): Private One-Way Transfer ⇋ Osaka: $168
- Itami Airport Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kobe: $188
- Itami Airport Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kyoto: $221
- Itami Airport Private One-Way Transfer to/from Nara: $255
Is it cheaper to fly into Chongqing or Osaka?
Prices for flights to both Osaka 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 $25Osaka $27
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
- CHONGQING:Strolling through the city(Include dinner): $127
- Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner: $158
- Private Chongqing night tour with dinner hot pot: $170
- Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner: $183
- From Port Transfer with Half Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $197
- Private Chongqing Night View Tour with Hot Pot or Local Dinner: $199
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Osaka
For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2-Hour Kuromon Market Walking Street Food Tour: $27
- Osaka : Real Japanese food tour: $34
- Experience Cooking Takoyaki in its Birthplace, Osaka: $45
- Retro Shinsekai Food Tour with Local Street Eats: $46
- Osaka Okonomiyaki Cooking Experience!: $52
- Daytime food Tour - Osaka Station, Umeda 3 hours: $64
- Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Dotonbori: $65
- Osaka Japanese Cooking And Matcha Class near Osaka Castle: $69
- Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Osaka Dotonbori: $71
- Katsu Curry OR Bento Making Cooking Class & Local Shop Tour: $74
- Dotonbori/Namba Food Tour in 3 Hours: $75
- RAMEN and 2 types GYOZA (dumplings) Cooking Class: $76
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chongqing $14Osaka $22
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 Megacity Walking Tour: $135
- 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: $633
- 5D4N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Yichang to Chongqing: $633
- 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: $191
Typical Entertainment Prices in Osaka
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Osaka Aquarium (for 2)$32
Tours and Activities in Osaka
For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Osaka Imaginary Experience: $3.28
- The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living Ticket: $4.07
- Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum Entrance Ticket: $4.69
- Private Full Day Tour in Osaka and Kyoto Japan: $5.00
- Tsutenkaku Tower Entry Ticket: $6.71
- Harukas 300 Observatory Tickets | Osaka: $7.42
- Tsutenkaku Entry Ticket: $7.71
- Kids Plaza Osaka Admission Ticket: $9.47
- Dotonbori District Sightseeing Cruise & Beer Discount: $10
- Miso tasting experience: $10
- Osaka Bay: Santa Maria Cruise Boarding Pass: $11
- Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory Entry Ticket: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChongqing $7.09Osaka $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:
- Namba Pub Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $35
- Osaka Nights: Ultimate Pub Bar Crawl with an Expert Local Guide: $38
- Osaka Local Bar Crawl in Dotombori & Uranamba Area: $41
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shinsaibashi: $56
When comparing the travel costs between Chongqing and Osaka, we can see that Osaka is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chongqing Expensive? and Is Osaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chongqing or Osaka?
Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 53% larger than the population of Osaka. When comparing the sizes of Chongqing and Osaka, 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.