Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nanjing or Benxi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nanjing or Benxi? 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: Nanjing or Benxi?
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Benxi
Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNanjing $97Benxi $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $97, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $96. 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 Nanjing and Benxi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNanjing $47Benxi $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNanjing $94Benxi $96
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Benxi
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Benxi? 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.Nanjing $39Benxi $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Huangshan Tunxi International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $20
- [Airport transfer] Nanjing Lukou International Airport ⇔ Nanjing city transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $27
- Private Arrival Transfer to Nanjing City from Railway Station : $32
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $34
- Nanjing Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $35
- Nanjing Lukou International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $45
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
- Private Departure Transfer from Nanjing City Center to Lukou Int'l Airport: $45
- Private Nanjing Airport Transfer from City Hotels or Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts: $45
- Private Transfer Between Tangshan Hot Spring Resort and Nanjing Lukou Airport: $49
- Nanjing Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) to Nanjing hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Nanjing or Benxi?
Prices for flights to both Benxi and Nanjing 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 dayNanjing $29Benxi $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nanjing $9.45Benxi $7.44
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Presidential Palace (A must-see) Entry Ticket: $21
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Nanjing Self-Guided Day Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $70
- Nanjing Private English Tour Guide Service: $75
- Private Amazing Nanjing City Day Tour in Your Way: $75
- Nanjing Professional English Tour Guide Service: $91
- Half-Day Nanjing Purple Mountain Private Tour in Your Way: $94
- Yangzhou Self-Guided Tour from Nanjing with Private Car and Driver Service : $94
- Zhenjiang Self-Guided Tour from Nanjing with Private Car and Driver service : $101
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNanjing $9.65Benxi $7.84
When comparing the travel costs between Nanjing and Benxi, we can see that Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive? and Is Benxi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nanjing or Benxi?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Benxi. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing and Benxi, 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 Nanjing or Benxi?
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 Nanjing or Benxi in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nanjing and Benxi.
Nanjing is a little warmer than Benxi in the summer. The daily temperature in Nanjing averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
Benxi receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nanjing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nanjing usually receives less rain than Benxi. Nanjing gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNanjing 28°C (83°F)Benxi 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Benxi in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nanjing as well as Benxi.
In the autumn, Nanjing is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nanjing in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (52°F).
Nanjing usually gets less rain in October than Benxi. Nanjing gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNanjing 17°C (63°F)Benxi 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Benxi in the Winter?
Both Benxi and Nanjing are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Benxi in the winter. The weather in Nanjing can be very cold. In January, Nanjing is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Nanjing average around 3°C (37°F), and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In January, Nanjing usually receives more rain than Benxi. Nanjing gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNanjing 3°C (37°F)Benxi -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Benxi in the Spring?
Both Benxi and Nanjing during the spring are popular places to visit.
Nanjing is a little warmer than Benxi in the spring. The daily temperature in Nanjing averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nanjing. Nanjing usually gets more rain in April than Benxi. Nanjing gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNanjing 15°C (60°F)Benxi 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Benxi and Nanjing
| Nanjing | Benxi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.