Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Dalian?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dalian or Chengdu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dalian or Chengdu? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Dalian or Chengdu?
Dalian
Dalian, China is a very large peninsula city located in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The area has a wealth of history, with roots in Russian and Japanese rule, resulting in unique architecture and many universities that attract foreign students and teachers. Dalian is also known for their beautiful green spaces and relaxing beaches which juxtapose a lot of the more industrial cities found throughout other areas of northern China.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDalian $102Chengdu $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Dalian is $102, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $50. 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 Dalian and Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDalian $54Chengdu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDalian $108Chengdu $42
Compare Hotels in Dalian and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Dalian 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.
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.Dalian $40Chengdu $5.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dalian
Also for Dalian, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $27
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Panda Base, city central with Round Airport Transfer: $240
- Downtown to Mountain Emei round way transfer for one day service: $189
- Private Transfer from Chengdu to Mount Emei and Stops at Leshan Giant Buddha: $160
- Giant Buddha or Dujiangyan Ticket+Private Transfer: $144
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Downtown to Airport: $140
- Downtown to Dujiangyan round way transfer: $117
- Private Transfer to Leshan Giant Buddha: $100
- Chengdu panda ticket with one way private transfer: $70
- Private Round-Trip Transfer:Chengdu Shuangliu Airport or Chengdu Tianfu Airport : $67
- Chengdu to Xi'an/Chongqing Bullet Train Ticket with Transfer: $56
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport Chauffeur Service, Chengdu Airport Transfer, Pickup: $53
- Sichuan Face Changing Opera With Door to Door Private Transfer: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Dalian or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu and Dalian 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 dayDalian $27Chengdu $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Chengdu evening food tour by local guide: $60
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $69
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Sichuan Opera Show VIP Seat Tickets w/ Transfer or Dinner: $71
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $76
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $79
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda: $79
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Half-Day Private Sichuan Hot-Pot Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
- Half-Day Dandan Noodles Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dalian $4.76Chengdu $16
Tours and Activities in Dalian
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.
- Dalian City Private Day Tour in Your Way: $159
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chengdu Leshan Buddha and Drop off off Railway Station Day Tour: $226
- Chengdu Private Day Tour to the Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi Old Town: $248
- Private Chengdu day Tour of panda base with Leshan giant Buddha: $298
- 1 day Chengdu City Highlights Mini Group tour: $102
- 1-Day Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour With the Lunch and Boat tour: $242
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha GROUP Tour: $144
- 1-Day Chengdu tour with Panda Base, Renmin Park,Wenshu Temple and Hot Pot Lunch: $193
- 1-Day Dujiangyan Self-Guided Tour: Panda Volunteer and Water Irrigation System: $123
- 1-Day Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour with the Lunch from Chengdu: $229
- 1-Day Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi old town Private Tour from Chengdu: $236
- 1-Day Panda Base and Huanglongxi old town Private Tour from Chengdu: $234
- 1-Day Panda Breeding Center plus Chengdu City Tour: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDalian $6.29Chengdu $3.91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dalian and Chengdu, we can see that Dalian 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 Dalian would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dalian 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 Dalian Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dalian or Chengdu?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 94% larger than the population of Dalian. When comparing the sizes of Dalian 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.
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.