Should you visit Hangzhou or Chengdu?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Hangzhou and Chengdu. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a city in Eastern China, about an hour by train from Shanghai, renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. Each year it attracts more than 20 million tourists who come to see what the city has to offer. Set amongst the natural scenery of lakes and mountains, Hangzhou is modern city that coexists with the old. Historic pagodas and cultural sites built around the central lake sit like they belong amidst the skyscrapers and bustling markets of today.
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
Which city is cheaper, Chengdu or Hangzhou?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Hangzhou is $34, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $45. 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 Hangzhou and Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $30 for a double occupancy room in Hangzhou.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $38 for a double occupancy room in Chengdu.
Food
While meal prices in Hangzhou can vary, the average travelers spends about $5.43 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Hangzhou should cost around $2.17 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Hangzhou is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Food in Chengdu costs travelers about $19 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Hangzhou $5.43
Chengdu $19
Typical Food prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hangzhou:
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Breakfast Pastries
$2.63
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Pizza Hut Lunch
$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hangzhou.
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Hangzhou Night Tour: Dinner and Romance of the Song Dynasty Show:
$52
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All Inclusive Night Tour with Impression West Lake Show VIP Ticket and Dinner:
$117
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Eat Like A Local - Hangzhou Night Food Tour:
$117
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VIP Seated Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Show Tour with Authentic Dinner:
$127
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Hangzhou Cooking Class and Local Market Tour:
$148
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Private Amazing Hangzhou Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option:
$161
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Half Day Westlake Highlights Tour with Optional Lunch or Dinner:
$163
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Wuzhen Ancient Water Town Private Night Tour from Hangzhou with Dinner Option:
$185
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Enduring Memories of Hangzhou West Lake Show VIP Ticket with Authentic Dinner:
$191
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Xitang Water Town Private Night Tour from Hangzhou with Dinner:
$191
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Hangzhou Night Tour With Food Street For Dinner and Beer Tasting:
$196
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Hangzhou Private Tour to Wuzhen Water Town with Lunch or Dinner:
$213
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
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Food and Cooking experiences in Chengdu:
$51
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Half Day Tour Chengdu Courtyard Cooking Class and Local Spice Market:
$56
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Sichuan cooking class half day tour:
$56
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Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit:
$56
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Private Sichuan Cooking Class including Local Wet Market Visit:
$59
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Half-Day Small Group Sichuan Cuisine Museum Tour with Cooking Class:
$64
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Half Day Chengdu Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking:
$70
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Authentic Chengdu Local Food Tour:
$73
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Half-Day Private Sichuan Hot-Pot Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit:
$78
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Half-Day Sichuan Cooking Class Experience in Chengdu:
$87
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Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour:
$96
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Private tour to Panda Base and Cooking class in Chengdu:
$98
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Hangzhou is $0.39 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The average price of local transportation around Chengdu is $5.33 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hangzhou:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hangzhou:
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2-Day Putuo Mountain Self-Guided Tour from Hangzhou by Private Transfer:
$267
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China Private Xiaoshan Airport(HGH) transfer to/from Hangzhou city:
$39
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Enduring Memories of Hangzhou West Lake Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer:
$125
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Great Wall Self-Guided Tour from Hangzhou by Bullet Train with Local Transfer:
$300
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Hangzhou City Center Transfer to Shanghai Pudong Airport:
$148
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Hangzhou Downtown Transfer To Hangzhou East Railway Station:
$32
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Hangzhou Downtown transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport:
$35
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Hangzhou International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Shaoxing City:
$78
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Hangzhou Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$89
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Hangzhou Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$77
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Hangzhou Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station:
$56
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Hangzhou Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station:
$32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
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1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Leshan Giant buddha with Round Airport Transfer:
$200
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1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Panda Base, city central with Round Airport Transfer:
$187
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Arrival Private Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu City by Executive Sedan:
$103
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Arrival Private Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu City by Standard Car:
$53
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Arrival Private Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu by Business Minivan:
$112
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Arrival Private Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu by Minivan:
$61
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Chengdu (CTU) - Chengdu transfer:
$34
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Chengdu City to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer:
$37
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Chengdu Private Airport Arrival Transfer:
$59
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Chengdu Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$89
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Chengdu Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel:
$89
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Chengdu Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$56
Entertainment
Chengdu's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Hangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Hangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Hangzhou Lingyin Temple Tour:
$28
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Hangzhou Private Half–Day Tea and Gardens Tour:
$43
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Full-Day Culture Tour / Leifeng Pagoda:
$47
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Hangzhou Longjing Tea Plantation Culture Experience Tour:
$50
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Hangzhou Tea Culture Experience Tour:
$53
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Best Price: Impression West Lake Show Ticket:
$58
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Hangzhou Tea Culture Day Tour:
$59
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Songcheng Park & Lengend of Song Dynasty Show Ticket:
$60
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Hangzhou City Tour: West Lake Cruise and Lingyin Temple:
$62
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Skip the Line: Impression West Lake Show Ticket:
$63
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Skip the Line: Impression West Lake VIP Seat Ticket:
$63
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The most beautiful temple in China--Yongfu Temple tour with vegetarian lunch:
$64
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Admission Ticket:
$11
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Chengdu Jinsha Archaeological Site and Museum Ticket:
$14
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Sichuan Opera Night show Tickets:
$16
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Skip the Line: Ticket to Face Changing Sichuan Opera:
$19
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Skip the Line: Sichuan Opera Chengdu Ticket:
$21
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Panda Breeding Center (Panda Base) & Taoism temple tour:
$32
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Sichuan Opera Tickets Booking:
$32
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Shufeng Yayun Teahouse Sichuan Opera Ticket:
$34
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3-Hour Walking Tour in Chengdu People's Park and Learning Mahjong:
$34
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Half Day tour Chengdu Mahjong course in Local Tea House:
$36
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Half-day Walking Tour with Local Market Trip and Vegetarian Lunch in Nunnery:
$36
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Flexible Private Chengdu Layover Tour:
$43
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chengdu may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $3.53 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Chengdu
Also in Chengdu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Half Day Explore Chinese White Wine Distillery in Chengdu:
$128
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hangzhou and Chengdu, we can see that Chengdu is more expensive. And not only is Hangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hangzhou 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 Chengdu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chengdu than you might in Hangzhou.
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