Which place is cheaper, Qingdao or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Dubai or Qingdao?
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 Qingdao can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Qingdao?
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.
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
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 Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Dubai Prices
UAE PricesQingdao Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $289Qingdao $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $77. 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 Qingdao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Qingdao $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Qingdao $56
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Qingdao
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Qingdao? 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 and Qingdao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Qingdao $13
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:
- Yellow Boat Tour Dubai With Transfer Option: $90
- Yellow Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfers: $110
- X Line Ride in Dubai Marina with Optional Private Transfers: $270
- Wild Wadi Waterpark tickets with Private transfer: $148
- Wild Wadi Adventure Waterpark Tickets With Transfers Option: $93
- Visit AYA Universe Light and Sound Park in Dubai with Transfer: $65
- View at The Palm Jumeirah Dubai Tickets With Optional Transfers: $50
- VR Park Dubai Ticket with Transfer: $86
- Try Scuba Diving & snorkeling in Fujairah with Transfer: $167
- Ticket for 3D World Selfie Museum in Dubai With Transfer: $130
- The View at the Palm,non Prime Time With Two Way Private Transfer: $92
- The View at The Palm Iconic Palm Jumeirah Views with Transfers: $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Qingdao Airport Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $80
- Qingdao Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $77
- Qingdao Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $52
- Qingdao Liuting Airport private Transfer Service by Car, MPV: $45
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Qingdao?
Prices for flights to both Qingdao 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 $96Qingdao $36
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:
- Dubai Self Drive Desert Safari Experience with BBQ dinner: $10
- Dubai Red Dunes Desert Safari with Dinner, Camel, Shows & Pickup: $11
- Dune Bashing Red Dunes 4x4 Pick & Drop Shows Dinner Camel: $15
- VIP Red Dune Safari Dubai,Pick/Drop,Camel Ride, Quad & BBQ Dinner: $15
- VIP Red Dune Safari with Pick/Drop BBQ Dinner Camelride sandbord: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- VIP Red Dune Safari with Pick/Drop BBQ/Dinner Camelride Sandbord: $15
- VIP Red Dune Safari, Pick/Drop, Camel Ride,BBQ Dinner & Quad Bike: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $16
- Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $16
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Creek with pickup drop option: $16
- Dinner Dhow Cruise with Live Entertainment Al Seef: $16
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Qingdao $22
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.
- "Discover Abu Dhabi: A Captivating 6-Hour Guided Tour": $69
- "Explore Dubai's Highlights: 6-Hour Guided City Tour: $41
- 05 Hours Dubai Night City Tour: $61
- 1 HR - Dubai Marina Luxury Yacht Tour: $20
- 1 Hour Burj Khalifa Ticket with Cafe Treat: $67
- 1 Hour Kayaking Experience in Dubai Ticket: $43
- 1-Hour Burj Al Arab Jet Ski Tour: $163
- 1-Hour Dune Buggy Self-Drive, Camel Ride & Sandboarding Adventure: $150
- 10 - 12 Seater Toyota Haice Tourist MiniVan Rental Dubai: $220
- 1001 Adventure Tour: $71
- 12 Minute Helicopter Ride Tour From Atlantis Dubai: $238
- 12 mins Helicopter Tour & The View at The Palm Observatory Deck: $282
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Alternative City Tour with Navy Museum, Beer Street and TV Tower, Lunch Included: $200
- Bespoke Qingdao Private Tour on BMW Convertible or BYD 4WD SUV: $229
- German Era Tour of Old Town Qingdao with Lunch and Beer Museum: $200
- Half Day Tour and Trek to Fushan Mountain: $170
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Premium Qingdao Private Tour Coastal Scenery and Culture: $210
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $196
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $245
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $230
- Qingdao After Dark: 4-Hour Illumination Tour with Options: $150
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Qingdao $15
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 Tour: $62
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Qingdao, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Qingdao 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 Qingdao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Qingdao 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 Qingdao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Qingdao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Qingdao?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 44% larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Qingdao, 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 Qingdao?
Qingdao 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 Qingdao in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Qingdao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round.
It's very hot in Dubai this time of the year. Dubai is a little warmer than Qingdao in the summer. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 35°C (95°F) in July, and Qingdao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Qingdao receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Dubai usually receives less rain than Qingdao. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer. June to August in Dubai is the dry season.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDubai 35°C (95°F)Qingdao 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Qingdao in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Qingdao. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Dubai is much warmer than Qingdao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dubai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Qingdao averages at about 17°C (62°F).
Dubai usually gets less rain in October than Qingdao. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDubai 29°C (84°F)Qingdao 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Qingdao in the Winter?
Both Qingdao and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year.
Qingdao can be very cold during winter. In January, Dubai is generally much warmer than Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 19°C (66°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around -0°C (32°F).
In January, Dubai usually receives less rain than Qingdao. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. The rainy season in Dubai is January to March.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDubai 19°C (66°F)Qingdao -0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Qingdao in the Spring?
Both Qingdao and Dubai during the spring 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 much warmer than Qingdao in the spring. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Qingdao fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Dubai usually gets less rain in April than Qingdao. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Dubai.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDubai 26°C (79°F)Qingdao 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Qingdao and Dubai
| Dubai | Qingdao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.