Which place is cheaper, Guilin or Hefei?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hefei or Guilin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hefei or Guilin? 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: Hefei or Guilin?
Hefei
While most would consider the city of Hefei a pass-through destination, there are plenty of things to see in the capital city of China's Anhui province.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHefei $62Guilin $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Hefei is $62, while the average daily cost in Guilin is $67. 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 Hefei and Guilin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHefei $28Guilin $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHefei $56Guilin $68
Compare Hotels in Hefei and Guilin
Looking for a hotel in Hefei or Guilin? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hefei $17Guilin $5.77
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- 2-hours Yangshuo Yulong Bamboo Boat Tour with the Round-way Private Transfers: $83
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dongguan Transfer: $71
- 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: $57
- Guilin liangjiang Airport Chauffeur Service,Guilin Airport Transfer: $57
- Four Lakes Night Cruise with Round-trip Transfer: $57
- Haikou Meilan Airport Chauffeur Service, Haikou Airport Transfer, Pick up: $75
- Haikou Meilan International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Haikou Airport Transfer: $56
- Haikou Meilan International Airport Chauffeur Service, Haikou Airport Transfer: $50
- One Way Transfer Service between Guilin city and airport: $43
- Private Airport Transfer: Guilin Airport to Hotel in Yangshuo: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Hefei or Guilin?
Prices for flights to both Guilin and Hefei 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 dayHefei $21Guilin $22
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$1.38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hefei $19Guilin $28
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$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guilin Yangshuo & Longji Rice Terrace 4 days tour: $21
- 1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour: $45
- 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
- Half-Day Self-Guided Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Tour: $52
- Li River Cruise Ticket Booking (E-ticket & Seat Reservation): $54
- Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill: $59
- Full-Day Guilin Essence and Lifestyle Walking Tour: $69
- Private Bike Tour: Yangshuo Countryside: $72
- Kayaking Adventure with Local Guide: $72
- Yangshuo Old Town and Li River Cruise from Guilin: $72
- One Day Private Longshen Rice Terraces Tour Including Lunch: $73
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHefei $11Guilin $5.73
When comparing the travel costs between Hefei and Guilin, we can see that Guilin 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hefei Expensive? and Is Guilin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hefei or Guilin?
Hefei has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Hefei and Guilin, 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 Hefei or Guilin?
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 Hefei or Guilin in the Summer?
Both Guilin and Hefei are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In July, Hefei is generally around the same temperature as Guilin. Daily temperatures in Hefei average around 29°C (83°F), and Guilin fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. It's quite rainy in Hefei. In July, Hefei usually receives less rain than Guilin. Hefei gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHefei 29°C (83°F)Guilin 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Hefei or Guilin in the Autumn?
Both Guilin and Hefei during the autumn are popular places to visit.
Hefei is cooler than Guilin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hefei averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Guilin fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Hefei usually gets less rain in October than Guilin. Hefei gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHefei 18°C (64°F)Guilin 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Hefei or Guilin in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Hefei and Guilin.
Hefei can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Hefei is much colder than Guilin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hefei in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Guilin averages at about 10°C (49°F).
In January, Hefei usually receives less rain than Guilin. Hefei gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHefei 3°C (38°F)Guilin 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Hefei or Guilin in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Hefei as well as Guilin.
In April, Hefei is generally cooler than Guilin. Daily temperatures in Hefei average around 16°C (61°F), and Guilin fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite rainy in Guilin. Hefei usually gets less rain in April than Guilin. Hefei gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHefei 16°C (61°F)Guilin 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Guilin and Hefei
| Hefei | Guilin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (50°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) |
| May | 22°C (71°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (78°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.