Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubai or Guangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Guangzhou can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Guangzhou?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Guangzhou $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $89. 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 Dubai and Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Guangzhou $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Guangzhou $114
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Guangzhou? 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: Dubai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Guangzhou $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Banana Boat Ride Dubai With Transfer: $190
- Burj Al Arab Tour - Gold Cappuccino With Private Transfers: $147
- Dubai Frame & La Perle Dragon Dubai (Bronze) With Transfer: $210
- Dubai Maktoum DWC to Al Ain Private Limo-Van Transfer: $67
- Dubai Private Transfer to The Outlet Village: $92
- Jet Ski Adventure in Dubai with Optional Transfers: $109
- 1 Day 1 Park (Motiongate or Legoland) with Private Transfer: $185
- 1-Hour Quad Biking Tour with Transfer from Dubai: $61
- 12 Minute Helicopter Ride in Dubai with Optional Transfer: $255
- 2 Dives for Certified Divers in Fujairah with lunch & transfer: $167
- 2 Hour View at The Palm Ticket and One Way Monorail with Transfer: $65
- 20 Minute Jet Car Ride Near Burj Al Arab with Optional Transfers: $230
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Private Day Tour to Zhuhai from Guangzhou by Private Transfer: $300
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $170
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service, To Dongguan Transfer: $120
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou and Zhuhai City Area : $104
- Private Arrival Transfer in English-speaking: Airport to Hotel: $99
- Guangzhou Night Pearl River Cruise VIP Seating with Private Transfer: $96
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $88
- Guangzhou Airport Transfer by 6 seat mpv: $74
- Guangzhou Airport: Private Transfer to/from Guangzhou: $70
- Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou with Private Transfer: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou and Dubai 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 dayDubai $56Guangzhou $19
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai Creek with Buffet Dinner: $14
- Dubai:Desert Safari BBQ dinner, Dune bashing,Camel&Sandboarding: $14
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet in Dubai: $14
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $14
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
- Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $19
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek: $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Guangzhou Evening Food Tour Through Local Neighborhood: $65
- Guangzhou Night View Cruise Tour with Dinner: $90
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $100
- Yum Cha Dim Sum Dinner and Pearl River Night Cruise Private Tour : $110
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- 3-Hour Guangzhou Private Cooking Class with Local Market Visit : $165
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Yumcha and Local Food Market Explore: $180
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
- Private Cooking Canton Cuisine Cooking Class in Guangzhou : $266
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Guangzhou $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Tourist eSIM/SIM Card with Data and Minutes: $2.49
- Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
- Ticket to Muséum of the futuré: $5.30
- Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.13
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.34
- 4G Data Roaming eSIM Card for Tourists: $7.22
- Small-Group Premium Old Town, Souk, & Abra Boat Tour: $7.62
- Old Town Walking Tour with Souks, Abra Ride & Snacks: $8.00
- Old Walking tour with Boat ride, Souks and Museums: $8.17
- Old Dubai, Walking Tour, Souk Shopping, and Abra Ride: $8.85
- Pearl Merchants and Palm Trees: A Self-Guided Tour of Sharjah: $8.99
- Dubai Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- Private Tour of Foshan: The Ancestral Temple and Other Options from Guangzhou : $167
- 1 Day Guangzhou City Highlight Layover Tour from Airport: $276
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 1-Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private City Tour: $185
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $95
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
- AAAAA Top National Natural Preserve Dinghu Mountain Private Tour: $300
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Lotus Hill and Shawan Old Town from Guangzhou: $229
- Big Buddha Lotus Hill Ancient Quarry Seagull Island Private Tour : $300
- Big Buddha Mountain Martial Art Culture Countryside Private Tour: $220
- Canton Tower and Pearl River Cruise Guangzhou Private Night Tour: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Guangzhou $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Guangzhou, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Guangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guangzhou 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Guangzhou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Guangzhou, 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.
When is the best time to visit Dubai or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dubai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Dubai or Guangzhou in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Guangzhou. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The heat can be very extreme in Dubai. In the summer, Dubai is a little warmer than Guangzhou. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dubai in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Guangzhou averages at about 29°C (84°F).
It's quite rainy in Guangzhou. Dubai usually gets less rain in July than Guangzhou. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to August in Dubai is the dry season.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDubai 35°C (95°F)Guangzhou 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Guangzhou in the Autumn?
Both Guangzhou and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year.
In October, Dubai is generally a little warmer than Guangzhou. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 29°C (84°F), and Guangzhou fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).
In October, Dubai usually receives less rain than Guangzhou. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDubai 29°C (84°F)Guangzhou 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Guangzhou in the Winter?
Both Guangzhou and Dubai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Dubai is a little warmer than Guangzhou in the winter. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 19°C (66°F) in January, and Guangzhou fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Dubai usually gets less rain in January than Guangzhou. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. January to March is the rainy season in Dubai.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDubai 19°C (66°F)Guangzhou 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Guangzhou in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Guangzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round.
In the spring, Dubai is a little warmer than Guangzhou. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dubai in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Guangzhou averages at about 22°C (72°F).
Guangzhou receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Dubai usually receives less rain than Guangzhou. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to August in Dubai is the dry season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDubai 26°C (79°F)Guangzhou 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Guangzhou and Dubai
| Dubai | Guangzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
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.