Should you visit Hongcun or Chengdu?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Hongcun and Chengdu can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
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 Hongcun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Hongcun is $18, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $46. 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 Hongcun and Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Hongcun is $19. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $38 for a double occupancy room in Chengdu.
Food
Food in Hongcun costs travelers about $4.09 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.
Food in Chengdu costs travelers about $20 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
Hongcun $4.09
Chengdu $20
Typical Food prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two
$5.50
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Breakfast of Dumplings
$2.36
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 Chengdu is $5.40 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
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Private Airport Transfer: Chengdu Shuangliu Int. Airport (CTU) to Chengdu:
$18
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Private Airport Transfer: from Chengdu to Chengdu Shuangliu Int. Airport (CTU):
$18
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Private Arrival Transfer from Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu City Center:
$19
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Private Departure Transfer from Chengdu City Center to Chengdu Airport (CTU):
$19
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Private airport transfer to or from Chengdu International Airport Max 5 persons:
$19
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Private airport transfer to or from Chengdu International Airport Max 5 person:
$19
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Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu:
$21
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Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu Train Stations to Hotel:
$23
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Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu International Airport (CTU) to Hotel:
$23
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU):
$23
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Train Stations:
$23
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Private Transfer from Chengdu hotel to Chengdu Train Station:
$25
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $16 per person, per day in Hongcun. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Chengdu's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $15 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.
Typical Entertainment prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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 $3.58 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 Hongcun and Chengdu, we can see that Chengdu is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Hongcun.
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