Should you visit Guangzhou or Dalian?
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 Dalian can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Dalian
Dalian, China is a very large peninsula city located in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The area has a wealth of history, with roots in Russian and Japanese rule, resulting in unique architecture and many universities that attract foreign students and teachers. Dalian is also known for their beautiful green spaces and relaxing beaches which juxtapose a lot of the more industrial cities found throughout other areas of northern China.
Which city is cheaper, Dalian or Guangzhou?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Guangzhou is $81, while the average daily cost in Dalian is $93. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Guangzhou and Dalian in more detail.
Accommodation
Guangzhou's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $104. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $52.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $98 in Dalian For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $18 per day in Guangzhou for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Dalian travelers spend around $25 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Guangzhou $18
Dalian $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
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Pearl River Night Dinner Cruise in Guangzhou:
$73
-
The Great Guangzhou Food Tour with Authentic Flavors:
$81
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From Pearl River Night Cruise with Buffet Dinner:
$87
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Guangzhou Night View Cruise Tour with Dinner:
$90
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Guangzhou Night Tour of Pearl River Cruise with Buffet Dinner:
$91
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Night Pearl River Cruise with Buffet Dinner:
$98
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Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou:
$139
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Private Guangzhou food tour:
$150
-
Half day private layover tour with Cantonese dim sum lunch/dinner:
$160
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Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Pearl River Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner:
$160
-
3-Hour Guangzhou Private Cooking Class with Local Market Visit:
$161
-
Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner:
$166
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Guangzhou is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $13 per person, per day, on local transportation in Guangzhou.
Dalian's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $37 per person, per day on transportation in Dalian.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
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Private Day Trip Of Beijing From Your Guangzhou's hotel Including Transfer Service:
$1,300
-
Round Trip Private Transfer Guangzhou CAN Airport to Guangzhou City by Minibus:
$508
-
Private transfer service from Guangzhou to Hong Kong (7-seater Alphard van):
$495
-
Guangzhou & Fushan to Hong Kong Private Transfer:
$422
-
Private Transfer From Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to Hong Kong City:
$179
-
Private Round-Trip Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport:
$169
-
Private Airport Transfer From Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to Guangzhou City:
$155
-
Chimelong Circus Show with Private Transfer in Guangzhou:
$139
-
Ticket to Chimelong International Circus with Hotel Transfer Service:
$116
-
Private Guided Guangzhou Pearl River Cruise Tour With Hotel Transfer:
$109
-
Round Trip Private Transfer Guangzhou CAN Airport to Guangzhou by Car or Minivan:
$105
-
Zhuhai City Private Arrival Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l Airport:
$101
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dalian
Also for Dalian, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Dalian Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$89
-
Dalian Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$56
-
Dalian Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station:
$89
-
Dalian Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station:
$30
-
Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer:
$27
-
Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer:
$40
-
Private Arrival Transfer to Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport from Dalian Downtown:
$36
-
Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Any Guiyang Railway Station:
$36
-
Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport(DLC):
$32
-
Private Round-Trip Transfer:Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport(DLC):
$62
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Guangzhou typically cost an average of $16 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dalian can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $4.35 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1 Day Classic Tour in Guangzhou China:
$154
-
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
-
10-Day Private Tour from Guangzhou to Guilin and Nanning:
$2,460
-
10-Day Private Tour from Guangzhou to Yangshuo and Nanning by car:
$2,560
-
2 Days Guangzhou Private Tour from Airport:
$527
-
2-Day Beijing Private Flexible Tour with Great Wall from Guangzhou by Air:
$741
-
2-Day PRI Tour to Kulangsu Island and Tulou by Round-way Flight from Guangzhou:
$1,096
-
2-Day Private Customized Harbin Tour from Guangzhou by Air:
$1,118
-
2-Day Private Danxia Mountain and Nanhua Monastery Tour From Guangzhou by Bullet Train:
$594
-
2-Day Private Guilin & Yangshuo tour from Guangzhou:
$485
Tours and Activities in Dalian
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.
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Dalian City Highlight Private Day tour:
$73
-
Dalian City Private Day Tour in Your Way:
$150
-
Flexible Dalian City Highlights Private Day Tour with Lunch:
$188
-
Private Dalian Night Tour:
$200
-
Private 2 Day Tour of Dalian City:
$250
-
All Inclusive Private Lushun(Port Arthur) Full-Day Tour:
$300
-
All-Inclusive Private Dalian Port Layover Tour with Lunch:
$300
-
All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour of Beijing City Highlights from Dalian by Air:
$738
-
3-Day Private Tibet Tour from Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake and Khampa La Pass:
$925
-
4 Days Private History and Culture Tour of Beijing and Xi'an:
$1,088
-
All Inclusive 3-Day Private Tour of Xi'an and Beijing from Dalian with Hotel:
$1,278
-
7-Day Private China Tour from Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai:
$2,328
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Guangzhou may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Dalian, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.74.
When comparing the travel costs between Guangzhou and Dalian, we can see that Dalian is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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