Which place is cheaper, Qingdao or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Qingdao $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $58. 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 $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Qingdao $52
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Qingdao $12
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 Private Transfers: $95
- Yellow Boat Tour Dubai With Private Transfers: $102
- Yellow Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfers: $110
- Xline Dubai Marina Zipline Experience With Transfers Option: $243
- Xline Dubai Marina Zipline Experience Dubai with Transfers Option: $247
- Wild Wadi tickets with Transfers: $100
- Wild Wadi Waterpark tickets with Private transfer: $154
- Wild Wadi Waterpark Entrance Ticket -Dubai with Transfers Option: $99
- Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai Ticket With Private Transfer: $125
- Wild Wadi WaterPark Ticket with Optional Transfers and Meal: $78
- Wild Wadi Water Park Ticket with Transfer from Dubai: $131
- Wild Wadi Dubai water park Ticket with 1 way transfer in Dubai: $110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- 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
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $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 $56Qingdao $20
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Qingdao $20
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.
- 60 Minutes Dubai Yellow Boat Marina Tour: $78
- Abu Dhabi City Tour Including Ferrari World Ticket : $170
- Bur Dubai Abra Tour and Boat Ride with Museum of Illusions : $135
- Burj Khalifa Observation deck Dubai Admission Ticket : $71
- Classical Dubai Highlights City Tour : $44
- DXB Tour and Aquaventure water park & lost Chambers PRIVATE tour: $215
- Dubai (Marina Luxury Yacht) Tour with BF : $95
- Dubai (Marina Luxury Yacht) Tour with Breakfast: $105
- Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Explorer Tickets: $95
- Dubai City Tour : Half Day: $45
- Dubai City Tour(Full Day) with Burj Khalifa Ticket 'At the Top' : $225
- Dubai Frame Entry Ticket: $22
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- 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: $199
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Qingdao $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 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.