Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Doha or Pingyao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Pingyao can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Pingyao?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $200Pingyao $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $200, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $54. 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 Doha and Pingyao in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119Pingyao $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Pingyao $46
Compare Hotels in Doha and Pingyao
Looking for a hotel in Doha or Pingyao? 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: Doha Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Pingyao $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - Doha city: $14
- Shared Arrival Transfer - Doha City: $14
- Shared Departure Transfer from Doha: $14
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - West Bay: $20
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - West bay: $20
- Shared Departure Transfer in West Bay: $20
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - Pearl Qatar: $27
- Shared Departure Transfer - Pearl Qatar: $27
- Easy Airport Transfers (Airport to Hotel): $30
- Airport Transfer-Hamad International Airport, Doha-Qatar: $34
- Airport Transfer (To and From Doha City): $35
- Private Arrival Transfer - Doha: $50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
-
Taxi to Train Station$1.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
- Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
- Privater Transfer from Datong to Pingyao with driver: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Pingyao?
Prices for flights to both Pingyao and Doha 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 dayDoha $61Pingyao $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Private Dinner on Al Safliya Island: $76
- Private Souk Waqif with Lunch or Dinner Tour: $96
- Half Day Doha City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $143
- BBQ Dinner in the desert resort; Dune bashing & camel ride: $165
- Doha Private Full Day Desert Safari Lunch | Dinner Included: $190
- Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride: $195
- Doha : Full Day Desert Safari | BBQ Dinner | Inland sea: $197
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch/Dinner at Souk Al Wakra: $202
- Full Day Desert Private Safari with Lunch or Dinner: $214
- Private Overnight Desert Safari, Dune bashing, dinner & Breakfast: $220
- Full Day Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner: $234
- From Overnight Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner: $240
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
-
Casual Lunch (for 2)$4.97
-
Mango Juice$0.69
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Pingyao $18
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Doha International Airpor: Qatar eSIM Data Plan for Tourists: $8.02
- Qatar eSIM Data Plan for Tourists: $8.02
- Al Safliya Island Boat Tour: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of Souq Waqif: $30
- City Highlights Layover Tour: $32
- From Doha Cruise Terminal: Doha City Tour (Private Tour): $35
- Doha Geocaching & City Tour Combo: $35
- Sharing City Tour From MSC Virtuosa/Mein Schiff2: $35
- From Doha Cruise Terminal: Doha Private or Group City Tour: $35
- 4-hour Downtown City Tour: $40
- Doha : Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide (Private Tou: $43
- Walking tour SOUQ WAKIF & MSHEIREB: $45
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
-
All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.76
-
Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$6.90
-
Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.55
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- 2-Hour Guided Private Bike Tour to see the Hidden Pingyao & Tea Break: $60
- Half-Day Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $65
- Pingyao Food Walking Tour : $67
- 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $113
- Private Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple From Pingyao: $122
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Highlights: $125
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $129
- Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $132
- All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
- Private Day Tour: Pingyao Highlights of Old Town and City Wall: $154
- Private Old Town Highlights Day Tour: $160
- Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $164
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Pingyao $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Pingyao, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East and Pingyao is in Asia, 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 Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Pingyao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Pingyao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Pingyao?
Doha has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Doha and Pingyao, 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.