Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Guilin?
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 Guilin or Guangzhou?
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 Guilin and Guangzhou can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guilin or Guangzhou?
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Guilin Prices
China PricesGuangzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuilin $89Guangzhou $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $89, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $110. 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 Guilin and Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuilin $37Guangzhou $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuilin $74Guangzhou $122
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Guilin or Guangzhou? 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: Guilin Hotel Prices and Guangzhou Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guilin $6.18Guangzhou $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- Guilin Airport to Yangshuo: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $190
- Guilin Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $55
- Guilin Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $55
- Guilin Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $88
- Guilin Private Transfer (English-speaking) Between Guilin Hotels & Yangshuo: $93
- Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Airport to Hotel Roundtrip: $99
- Guilin Railway stations Transfer Service: $37
- Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $18
- Guilin liangjiang Airport Chauffeur Service,Guilin Airport Transfer: $40
- Four Lakes Night Cruise with Round-trip Transfer: $58
- Haikou Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $88
- Haikou Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- 1-Day Round-Trip Private Transfer to Gulong Gorge | Door-to-Door: $89
- Fast Train Ticket from Guangzhou to Hong Kong with Station Transfer in Guanghou: $95
- Foshan Elite Private Transfer & Executive Support: $199
- Guangzhou & Greater Bay Area Private Transfer & Executive Support: $199
- Guangzhou : Private One-Way Transfers to/from Baiyun Airport(CAN): $30
- Guangzhou Airport (CAN) to Guangzhou - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Guangzhou Airport (CAN) to Guangzhou Round-Trip Private Transfer: $74
- Guangzhou Airport Arrival Assistance & Private Transfer: $69
- Guangzhou Airport Layover: Private Transfer & City Highlights: $199
- Guangzhou Airport: Private Transfer to/from Guangzhou: $24
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) to Guangzhou City - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport CAN Private Transfer: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou and Guilin 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 dayGuilin $42Guangzhou $36
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Wukong Guilin Neighborhood Food Tour: $69
- Shantou Foodie Day Tour with Cooking Class: $199
- Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Private Cantonese Cooking Consultation and Custom Menu Planning: $19
- Guangzhou Local Life Street Food Tour Hidden Spots and Markets: $39
- Xíhuá Road Private Food Tour, Guided by a Local: $64
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Half Day Cantonese Cooking Class for Chinese Culinary Experience: $80
- Guangzhou Night Walking and Food Tour: Led by Local Cantonese: $82
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Tanxiu Banquet Immersive Drama and Dinner Experience in Foshan: $98
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour Pearl River Cruise & Dim-Sum Dinner: $110
- Private Guangzhou Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Night Cruise: $140
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guilin $30Guangzhou $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$18
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guilin English tour guide service: $15
- Guilin Yangshuo & Longji Rice Terrace 4 days tour: $21
- Gulong Gorge Outdoor Adventure Park Ticket: $35
- Guilin One Day Tour of Longjie Mountain: $46
- City Tour with Elephant Hill & Ming Tea Tasting: $46
- Guilin Four lakes night cruise with the English speaking driver from Guilin hotel: $47
- Guilin City Center Walking Group Tour at Night for Three Hours: $50
- Kayaking Adventure with Local Guide(beginner friendly): $51
- Half-Day Self-Guided Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Tour: $52
- 1-Day tour of Guilin-LiRiver cruise-Yangshuo Xianggong hill: $58
- Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill: $60
- Longji Rice Terraces Group Tour Long Hair Village Guilin Pickup: $65
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou：New Cultural Landmark Ticket -Explore Tang Style: $2.56
- 2,000-Year-Old Wonder-Nanyue King’s Tomb Ticket: $3.18
- Private Four Day Cultural Tour of Guangzhou and Foshan: $5.00
- Guangzhou Foshan Cantonese Culture One Day Tour: $5.00
- Cantonese Heritage Tour with Key Cultural Stops: $6.72
- Guangzhou Tour Guide and Car Service With Flexible Itinerary: $8.00
- Pearl River Cruise Experience Services: $23
- Lychee Bay River Cruise: $24
- Grandview Museum of Nature Science Ticket: $25
- Guangzhou Private Tour of Canton Tower and Pearl River Cruise: $29
- Roundtrip Cruise Night View from Canton Tower: $30
- Chen Clan Academy In-Depth 2-Hour Guided Tour: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuilin $6.14Guangzhou $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou is more expensive. And not only is Guilin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guilin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guilin 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou than you might in Guilin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guilin Expensive? and Is Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guilin or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Guilin and Guangzhou, 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 Guilin or Guangzhou?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Guilin or Guangzhou in the Summer?
Both Guangzhou and Guilin are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
Guilin is around the same temperature as Guangzhou in the summer. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Guangzhou fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guangzhou. It's quite rainy in Guilin. In July, Guilin usually receives less rain than Guangzhou. Guilin gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuilin 30°C (86°F)Guangzhou 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Guangzhou in the Autumn?
Both Guangzhou and Guilin during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In the autumn, Guilin is around the same temperature as Guangzhou. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Guilin in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Guangzhou averages at about 25°C (76°F).
Guilin usually gets more rain in October than Guangzhou. Guilin gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuilin 23°C (73°F)Guangzhou 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Guangzhou in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Guilin and Guangzhou.
In January, Guilin is generally cooler than Guangzhou. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 10°C (49°F), and Guangzhou fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
In January, Guilin usually receives more rain than Guangzhou. Guilin gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuilin 10°C (49°F)Guangzhou 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Guangzhou in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Guilin as well as Guangzhou.
Guilin is cooler than Guangzhou in the spring. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Guangzhou fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite rainy in Guangzhou. Guilin receives a lot of rain in the spring. Guilin usually gets more rain in April than Guangzhou. Guilin gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuilin 20°C (68°F)Guangzhou 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Guangzhou and Guilin
| Guilin | Guangzhou | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 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.