Should you visit Dalian or Macao?
Should I visit Dalian or Macao? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Macao
Located in China, Macau is a Special Administrative Region and one of the world's most densely populated regions. Until 1999 it remained an overseas territory of Portugal. It sits across from Hong Kong, along the Pearl River Estuary. Because it was so recently relinquished as a colony, it still has a significant amount of visible colonial history. The old city still looks very European, which you can see during a walking tour. Despite this architectural influence, the majority of the city's population is native Chinese.
Which city is cheaper, Macao or Dalian?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dalian is $93, while the average daily cost in Macao is $115. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Dalian and Macao in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $98 in Dalian For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
A hotel room in Macao is about $182 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
In Dalian travelers spend around $25 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
While meal prices in Macao can vary, the average travelers spends about $17 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Macao should cost around $6.80 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Macao is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Dalian $25
Macao $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dalian
For Dalian, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Chengdu Private Food Tour (With Visit to Kuanzhai Alley and Hotpot Experience):
$32
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Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Sanxingdui Museum Private Day Tour with Hotpot Dinner:
$76
-
Dim Sum Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit in Shanghai:
$78
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Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
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Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
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Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Macao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Macao.
Local Transportation
Dalian's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $37 per person, per day on transportation in Dalian.
The average price of local transportation around Macao is $0.47 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dalian
Also for Dalian, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Transfers (SHA/PVG) for Shanghai (Multiple Car Models):
$38
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Badaling Great Wall in Beijing Private Transfer:
$43
-
Dalian Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$89
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Dalian Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$56
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Dalian Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station:
$89
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Dalian Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station:
$30
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Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer:
$40
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Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer:
$27
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Longji Rice Terraced Fields and Minority Villages Tour with Transfer from Guilin or Yangshuo:
$108
-
Luxury Private Shanghai Pudong International Airport Transfers (PVG) for Downtown Shanghai:
$118
-
Luxury private Baiyun International Airport Transfers (CAN) for Guangzhou :
$74
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Luxury private Bao'an International Airport Transfers (SZX) for Downtown Shenzhen:
$67
Typical Local Transportation prices in Macao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Macao:
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Local Bus (for Two)
$1.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Macao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Macao:
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Private transfer: Macau Airport (MFM) to Macau:
$622
-
2 Days Macau Sightseeing Tour with Macau Airport Private Transfer:
$362
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Macau Day Tour with 2-Way Ferry Transfer from Shenzhen:
$247
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Hong Kong Disneyland Tour with Round-Trip Ferry Transfer from Macau:
$201
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Macau Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$120
-
Private Macau Transfer: Port to Hotel:
$78
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Private Airport Transfer: Macau International Airport (MFM) to Macao:
$32
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Private Airport Transfer: from Macao to Macau International Airport (MFM):
$32
Is it cheaper to fly into Dalian or Macao?
Prices for flights to both Macao 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dalian can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $4.34 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Macao's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $8.97 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Dalian
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.
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Hupao Park Ticket in Hangzhou (For Mainland China ID Holders):
$2.35
-
China Red Sandalwood Museum Ticket in Beijing :
$2.79
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Simatai Great Wall Admission with Cable Car Ticket in Beijing:
$3.09
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Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket Chengdu - ID Card Direct Entry:
$4.19
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Evergreen Resort Ticket in Shenzhen:
$6.19
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Jinxi Ancient Town Attractions Combo Ticket:
$6.99
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Gulangyu Seashell Museum Ticket:
$7.45
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Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Sanqiutian Pier:
$8.55
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Wuyishan Xiamei Ancient Village Admission Ticket:
$8.55
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Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Neicuoao Pier:
$8.55
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Guangdong First Peak Ticket:
$9.29
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Shanghai Joy City Rooftop Ferris Wheel - Sky Ring Ticket:
$9.29
Typical Entertainment prices in Macao
Here are a few typical costs in Macao for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Macao
Here are a few actual costs in Macao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Cultural and Heritage Tour of Cotai:
$76
-
Macau Beer Tour (3 Bars + 10 Landmarks):
$52
-
Macau Heritage & Gambling Tour History:
$47
-
Macau Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$47
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Macau Sightseeing tour including Buffet Lunch on Macau Tower and pickup in Macau:
$116
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Private Tour: Discover Macau:
$264
-
Savour Macau Half Day Tour by Award Winning Operator:
$40
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Sightseeing Coach Tour of Macau from Shenzhen with Ferry:
$176
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Taipa Biking Tour Ride:
$54
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Dalian, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.73.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dalian and Macao, we can see that Macao is more expensive. And not only is Dalian much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dalian would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dalian 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 Macao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Macao than you might in Dalian.
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