A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jaisalmer vs. Qingdao for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Jaisalmer or Qingdao?

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

Should I visit Jaisalmer or Qingdao? 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: Jaisalmer or Qingdao?

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.

Qingdao

Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Qingdao or Jaisalmer?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $37, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $58. 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 Jaisalmer and Qingdao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jaisalmer $13
    Qingdao $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jaisalmer $26
    Qingdao $52
Compare Hotels in Jaisalmer and Qingdao

Looking for a hotel in Jaisalmer or Qingdao? 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 Jaisalmer


Hotels in Qingdao


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: Jaisalmer Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jaisalmer $12
    Qingdao $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer

Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer From Jaisalmer To Udaipur Via Ranakpur Jain Temple: $90
  • Private transfer from Jaisalmer to Bikaner: $120
  • Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Sam Sand Dunes: $19
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Pushkar: $85
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Khuri Sand Dunes: $19
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple : $45
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jaipur: $117
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Bikaner: $65
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Ahmedabad: $117
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Agra: $181
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao

Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
  • Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
  • Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
  • Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
  • Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
  • Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
  • Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
  • Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Qingdao?

Prices for flights to both Qingdao and Jaisalmer 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
    Jaisalmer $13
    Qingdao $20
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:


  • Dinner
    $4.78

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer

For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Half Day SunSet Tour with Dinner: $26
  • Jaisalmer Heritage Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $28
  • Half Day Camel Safari Sunset with Dinner Tour (Non Touristic): $30
  • Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $33
  • Peaceful Non -Touristic Sunset Camel Safari With Dinner : $35
  • Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
  • Half Day Desert Safari with Camel ride & dinner: $42
  • Sun Set Safari with Dinner: $45
  • 4×4 Jeep Safari And Camel Safari With Dinner On Sand dunes: $48
  • DiNnER iN HeVeN /aT Golden Desert of Jaisalmer: $55
  • Away from the Crowd Dinner on dunes/ In Non Touristic Desert: $55
  • DiNnER !N G0LdEN DE$ERT 0F jASeLMeR: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jaisalmer $12
    Qingdao $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer

For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Sam Sand Dunes for Two
    $3.59

Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.

  • Private Full-Day Tour of Jaisalmer with Guide: $33
  • 1 Night Desert Experience Sleeping Under Star Near Jodhpur: $56
  • 1 night 2 day thar desert experience & village lifestyle: $38
  • 2 Nights 3 Days Jaisalmer Tour & Non-Touristic Camel Safari: $210
  • 3 Days Jaisalmer Private Tour: $180
  • 3 Days Jaisalmer Tour From Jodhpur: $270
  • 3 days Jaisalmer Private Tour with Desert Safari, Sightseeing and Accommodation: $203
  • 4 - Days Jaisalmer And Jodhpur Combo Tour: $180
  • 4 - Days Jaisalmer Sightseeing Tour: $150
  • 4 - Days Jaisalmer Sightseeing Tour: $168
  • 4-Day Jaisalmer Sightseeing Tour: $270
  • 8 Days Private Tour Colors of Rajasthan from Jaisalmer: $246

Tours and Activities in Qingdao

For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
  • All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
  • Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
  • Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
  • Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
  • Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
  • Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
  • Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
  • Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
  • Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
  • Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
  • Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jaisalmer $9.23
    Qingdao $14


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

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


Which is Bigger, Jaisalmer or Qingdao?

Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Jaisalmer. When comparing the sizes of Jaisalmer and Qingdao, 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.