Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise or Deqin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Deqin or Surfers Paradise?
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 Deqin and Surfers Paradise. 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: Deqin or Surfers Paradise?
Deqin
Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDeqin $63Surfers Paradise $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $63, while the average daily cost in Surfers Paradise is $104. 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 Deqin and Surfers Paradise in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeqin $35Surfers Paradise $66
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeqin $70Surfers Paradise $132
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Surfers Paradise
Looking for a hotel in Deqin or Surfers Paradise? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Deqin $18Surfers Paradise $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- All-Inclusive Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise (Gold Coast Transfer): $149
- Gold Coast Airport Transfers Corporate Chauffeurs Gold Coast: $119
- Gold Coast Hot Air Balloon + Winery Breakfast + Return Transfers: $291
- Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $14
- Luxury Private Transfer between Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast city (1-7pax) : $89
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Airports to Surfers Paradise: $106
- Private Transfer from Gold Coast Airport - Surfers Paradise: $50
- Private Transfer to Brisbane/BNE Airport from Gold Coast/OOL Airport( 1-7 pax): $229
Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Surfers Paradise?
Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise and Deqin 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 dayDeqin $16Surfers Paradise $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $78
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Deqin $13Surfers Paradise $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Surf Lesson$78
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line:Wax Museum Ticket-World in Wax & Guided Tour of Chamber of Horrors: $22
- Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise Day Pass: $30
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $30
- Gold Coast Afternoon River Cruise: $32
- Guided Gold Coast Amphibious Bus Tour: $33
- Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $33
- Gold Coast City Lights Cruise: $37
- Tropical Fruit World Farm Full Tour : $37
- Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak Tour: $46
- Paradise SUP Tour: $47
- Half-Day Whale Watching and Canal Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $52
- Catch a Crab Tour with Optional Seafood Lunch: $53
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeqin $11Surfers Paradise $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Deqin and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. And not only is Deqin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Deqin is in Asia and Surfers Paradise is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Deqin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Deqin 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise than you might in Deqin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Deqin Expensive? and Is Surfers Paradise Expensive?.
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.