Which place is cheaper, Beijing or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Eilat or Beijing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Beijing? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Eilat or Beijing?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Beijing $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Beijing 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 Eilat and Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Beijing $39
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Beijing $78
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Beijing? 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: Eilat Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Beijing $7.63
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
-
Local Bus$3.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
-
Taxi$4.71
-
Train from Airport for Two$6.90
-
Taxi to Hotel$8.28
-
2 Metro Passes$2.21
-
Metro$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- [Airport Transfer] Beijing Capital Airport ⇔ Beijing City Transfer (one way) ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $30
- Visit Great Wall With Beijing Capital Airport Round-Way Transfer : $215
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Beijing HTL-APT (PEK): $62
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Beijing APT-HTL (PEK): $62
- Tianjin International Cruise Port to Beijing Capital Airport by private transfer: $148
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing Daxing Airport by Private Transfer: $148
- Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Beijing International Airport: $153
- Tianjin Binhai Airport to Beijing - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $158
- Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City Private Tour With Airport Transfer: $205
- The Great Wall Jinshanling PRIVATE TRANSFER From Beijing : $105
- Shared Shuttle Bus Transfer Between Tianjin Cruise Port And Downtown Beijing : $59
- Self Guided transfer service to Juyongguan Great Wall or Badaling Great Wall: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing and Eilat 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 dayEilat $35Beijing $21
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
-
Popcorn$0.83
-
Hot Pot Dinner$6.90
-
Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.76
-
Watermelon$1.93
-
Peking Duck Dinner for 2$16
-
Two Popsicles$0.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef : $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Nangong Hot Spring Water World with Dinner: $38
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $60
- 3 hours Morning or Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street and Tea Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Tour: $69
- Mogolian Hot Pot Dinner with no limit soft drink and local beer .: $70
- Old Beijing Dinner Tour: $80
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $80
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Beijing $24
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $63
- Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Red Canyon: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.28
-
Two Opera Tickets$59
-
Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.66
-
Forbidden City (for 2)$17
-
Forbidden City Tickets$17
-
Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Day Mutianyu Great Wall and Beijing Airport Drop off Tour: $235
- All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour: $188
- All Inclusive Private Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour: $204
- Beijing 2 Summer Palace Private Garden Tour: $140
- Beijing Art Tour: Seeing Fantastic Ming Murals at Fa Hai Temple : $220
- Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $100
- Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
- China Art Museum and 798 Art Zone Private Tour: $137
- Classic One Day Beijing Tour: $240
- Forbidden City Tour : $110
- Full Day Private Tour Incredible Beijing City Highlights: $179
- Mutianyu Great Wall And Ming Tomb Private One Day Tour: $205
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Beijing $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $99
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Private Tour-Drum Tower, Hutong Food Taste and Local Brewery Beer: $150
- Full Day Private Chateau Changyu Wine Tour from Beijing: $162
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Beijing, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Beijing 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 Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Beijing?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Beijing, 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 Eilat or Beijing?
Beijing has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Eilat experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Eilat or Beijing in the Summer?
Both Beijing and Eilat during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
It's very hot in Eilat this time of the year. Eilat is a little warmer than Beijing in the summer. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Beijing fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Beijing. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 224 hours of full sun.
Beijing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Beijing. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyEilat 33°C (91°F)Beijing 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Beijing in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Beijing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Eilat is much warmer than Beijing. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Eilat in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Beijing averages at about 14°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Beijing during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Beijing. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEilat 26°C (79°F)Beijing 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Beijing in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Beijing. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
It's quite cold in Beijing in the winter. In January, Eilat is generally much warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 14°C (57°F), and Beijing fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the winter, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Beijing. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 201 hours of full sun.
Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Beijing. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEilat 14°C (57°F)Beijing -4°C (26°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Beijing in the Spring?
Both Beijing and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Eilat is much warmer than Beijing in the spring. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 24°C (75°F) in April, and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
It's quite sunny in Beijing. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Beijing during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Beijing. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilEilat 24°C (75°F)Beijing 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Beijing and Eilat
| Eilat | Beijing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.