A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hengyang vs. Airlie Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hengyang or Airlie Beach?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hengyang and Airlie Beach can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Hengyang or Airlie Beach?

Hengyang

Hengyang, China is a stunning, historically significant, city in southern China. With an almost six-thousand-year old history, Hengyang is the second largest city in the Hunan Province and is known for its agricultural, fishing, and rice. Near Hengyang is Mount Heng, a mountain famous in Chinese history and religion; it has 72 peaks and dozens of temples in the town below it.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Hengyang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hengyang is $59, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $141. 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 Hengyang and Airlie Beach in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hengyang $26
    Airlie Beach $58
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hengyang $52
    Airlie Beach $116
Compare Hotels in Hengyang and Airlie Beach

Looking for a hotel in Hengyang or Airlie Beach? 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.

Hotels in Hengyang


Hotels in Airlie Beach


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: Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hengyang $14
    Airlie Beach $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:

  • Private Transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport: $314
  • Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service: $28
  • Crayfish Beach Hook Island Camping Transfer: $139
  • One Way Only - Airport Transfer share shuttle service: $17
  • Return Transfer PPP Airport Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
  • South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $59
  • South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $47
  • Whitehaven Beach Club Transfers from Airlie Beach: $92
  • Whitsunday: Prosperpine Airport to Airlie Beach Transfer: $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Hengyang or Airlie Beach?

Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Hengyang 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hengyang $21
    Airlie Beach $32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.

  • 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $72
  • Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hengyang $19
    Airlie Beach $160

Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:

  • Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours: $20
  • 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
  • Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
  • Whisper Cruises - One-Hour Turtle Spotting Bay Cruise: $46
  • Sundowner Sunset Cruise Airlie Beach: $46
  • Airlie Beach sightseeing Tour: $50
  • Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
  • Whitsundays Sunset Sailing Cruise: $53
  • Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $58
  • 2 Hour Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise: $59
  • Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
  • 1 hour Mimosa Morning Turtle Spotting Cruise: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hengyang $13
    Airlie Beach $8.99


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hengyang and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Hengyang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hengyang is in Asia and Airlie Beach 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 Hengyang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hengyang 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 Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach than you might in Hengyang.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hengyang Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.