Which place is cheaper, Brisbane or Guangzhou?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guangzhou or Brisbane?
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 Guangzhou and Brisbane can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guangzhou or Brisbane?
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.
Brisbane
Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuangzhou $89Brisbane $131
The average daily cost (per person) in Guangzhou is $89, while the average daily cost in Brisbane is $131. 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 Guangzhou and Brisbane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuangzhou $57Brisbane $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuangzhou $114Brisbane $162
Compare Hotels in Guangzhou and Brisbane
Looking for a hotel in Guangzhou or Brisbane? 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: Brisbane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guangzhou $14Brisbane $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- 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 Guided Guangzhou Pearl River Cruise Tour With Hotel Transfer: $109
- Zhuhai City Private Arrival Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l Airport : $108
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou and Shenzhen 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 Private Transfer from Guangzhou central to Guangzhou Airport (CAN): $86
- Guangzhou Private Transfer from Guangzhou Airport (CAN) to central Guangzhou: $86
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Brisbane:
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Airtrain to the City$9.73
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Go Card$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane
Also for Brisbane, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: Brisbane Airport BNE to Brisbane in Luxury Car: $145
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Brisbane Airport (BNE): Private Transfer to Brisbane Port: $206
- Brisbane Airport (BNE): Private Transfer to Brisbane hotels: $185
- Brisbane Airport Private Transfer Service to Brisbane City: $111
- Brisbane Airport to Brisbane Hotels Private Round-Trip Transfer: $70
- Brisbane Airport to Sunshine Coast Transfer Service: $55
- Brisbane Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Brisbane city: $96
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast: $52
- Brisbane Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Brisbane hotels: $206
- Brisbane To Brisbane Airport or Cruise Transfers: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Guangzhou or Brisbane?
Prices for flights to both Brisbane and Guangzhou 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 dayGuangzhou $19Brisbane $31
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
- 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
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
Typical Food Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Brisbane:
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Hamburger Lunch$5.19
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Cup of Coffee$1.95
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Chinese Food Lunch$8.11
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Ice cream$3.57
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Japanese Meal$13
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Smoothie$4.22
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Japanese Soup$7.46
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Coffee & Muffin$4.54
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Morning Mint Tea$2.27
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Veggie Burger & Chips$9.08
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Bread$1.69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vertigo Dinner: Dining on the edge!: $163
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guangzhou $18Brisbane $24
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
- Liuxihe National Forest Park Private Day Tour from Guangzhou: $266
- Private Tour of Foshan: The Ancestral Temple and Other Options from Guangzhou : $167
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 4 Hours Half Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private Tour: $180
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $180
- 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
- Ancient Foshan Day Tour from Guangzhou: $201
- Best of Guangzhou City Sightseeing: $110
- Big Buddha Mountain Martial Art Culture Countryside Private Tour: $220
Typical Entertainment Prices in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Concert Tickets$13
Tours and Activities in Brisbane
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Brisbane.
- Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Audio Tour FREE Ticket: $15
- True Crime Tour: $22
- Brisbane Dark Stories True Crime Tour: $22
- Winery Tour and Tasting: $23
- Haunted Brisbane CBD Ghost Tour: $23
- South Brisbane Cemetery Ghost Tour: $23
- Moonlight State Fortitude Valley Crime Tour Crime Tours Australia: $23
- Ultimate Urban Adventure | Clue-Guided Experience: $27
- Themed Adventure Game: $29
- Sightseeing River Cruise with Morning Tea: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuangzhou $14Brisbane $50
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brisbane
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:
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Evening at the Bar$9.73
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Sixpack of Beer$9.08
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Guiness Beer$5.51
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Sixpack of Beer$8.43
Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Brisbane:
- XXXX Beer Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting: $24
- XXXX Brewery Tour: $24
- Artisinal Wine Tasting and Local 2-Course Meal: $49
- City Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $50
- Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $102
- Tamborine Wine & Distillery Tour + 2 Course Lunch: $124
- From Mount Tamborine Wine Tour with Gourmet Lunch: $131
- Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $131
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: $132
- Deluxe Wine Tour to Tamborine Mountain, includes two course lunch: $142
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guangzhou and Brisbane, we can see that Brisbane is more expensive. And not only is Guangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guangzhou is in Asia and Brisbane is in Pacific, 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 Brisbane would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brisbane 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 Guangzhou Expensive? and Is Brisbane Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guangzhou or Brisbane?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Brisbane. When comparing the sizes of Guangzhou and Brisbane, 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 Guangzhou or Brisbane?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Brisbane is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Guangzhou has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Guangzhou or Brisbane in the Summer?
Both Brisbane and Guangzhou during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Brisbane this time of year.
In July, Guangzhou is generally a little warmer than Brisbanein January. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 29°C (84°F), and Brisbane fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In Brisbane, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Guangzhou. In the summer, Guangzhou often gets less sunshine than Brisbanein January. Guangzhou gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brisbane receives 256 hours of full sun.
Brisbane gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guangzhou. Guangzhou usually gets more rain in July than Brisbanein January. Guangzhou gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryGuangzhou 29°C (84°F)Brisbane 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Brisbane in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Guangzhou and Brisbane. Also, many travelers come to Brisbane for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
Guangzhou is a little warmer than Brisbane in the autumn. The daily temperature in Guangzhou averages around 25°C (76°F) in October, and Brisbane fluctuates around 22°C (71°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Brisbane this time of the year. Guangzhou usually receives less sunshine than Brisbane during autumn. Guangzhou gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Brisbane receives 214 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Brisbane receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Guangzhou usually receives less rain than Brisbanein April. Guangzhou gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilGuangzhou 25°C (76°F)Brisbane 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Brisbane in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Guangzhou as well as Brisbane. Also, many visitors come to Brisbane in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Guangzhou is around the same temperature as Brisbane. Typically, the winter temperatures in Guangzhou in January average around 14°C (58°F), and Brisbane averages at about 15°C (59°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Brisbane. In the winter, Guangzhou often gets less sunshine than Brisbanein July. Guangzhou gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brisbane receives 226 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou usually gets less rain in January than Brisbanein July. Guangzhou gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyGuangzhou 14°C (58°F)Brisbane 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Brisbane in the Spring?
Both Brisbane and Guangzhou are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Brisbane for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Guangzhou is generally around the same temperature as Brisbanein October. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 22°C (72°F), and Brisbane fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
It's quite sunny in Brisbane. Guangzhou usually receives less sunshine than Brisbane during spring. Guangzhou gets 78 hours of sunny skies, while Brisbane receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Guangzhou. In April, Guangzhou usually receives more rain than Brisbanein October. Guangzhou gets 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberGuangzhou 22°C (72°F)Brisbane 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Brisbane and Guangzhou
| Guangzhou | Brisbane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 127 mm (5 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.