Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Nanjing or Chengdu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nanjing or Chengdu? 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 Chengdu?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Nanjing Prices
China PricesChengdu Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNanjing $117Chengdu $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $117, while the average daily cost in Chengdu 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 Nanjing and Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNanjing $47Chengdu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNanjing $94Chengdu $42
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Chengdu? 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 $39Chengdu $6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Nanjing Railway Station Private Transfer from City Center: $32
- Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $45
- Nanjing Downtown hotels to Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Nanjing Lukou Airport Chauffeur Service, Nanjing Airport Transfer, Pickup: $30
- Nanjing Lukou International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $45
- Nanjing Private Round Trip Transfer to Niushoushan Cultural Park: $67
- Nanjing Private Transfer from Nanjing Lukou Airport (NKG) to central Nanjing: $125
- Nanjing Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $35
- Nanjing Tangshan Hot Spring Spa Experience with Private Transfer: $103
- Nanjing to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $120
- Nanjing to Hangzhou Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $52
- Nanjing to Huangshan Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Leshan Giant buddha with Round Airport Transfer: $205
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Panda Base, city central with Round Airport Transfer: $240
- 3-Day Self-Guided Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong Tour with Transfer: $412
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $39
- Arrival Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu by Luxury Sedan: $91
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $62
- Chengdu Airport (TFU) to Chengdu city - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Chengdu Airport Private Transfer With English Speaking Driver: $35
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 40 pax: $230
- Chengdu City to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $30
- Chengdu Panda & Giant Buddha Day Tour With Private Transfer: $240
- Chengdu Panda Breeding Base Tour with Guide or Transfer: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Nanjing or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu 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 $49Chengdu $38
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
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- More than local Chengdu's Sichuan Cuisine Dinner Experience : $38
- Chengdu Night: VIP Seat Opera Show or Back Alley Food Tour: $40
- Chengdu Hidden Street Food Tour Spice Trails: $60
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Market Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class: $70
- Half Day Chengdu Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking: $72
- Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes): $75
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $75
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $80
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Half-Day Private Sichuan Hot-Pot Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nanjing $9.37Chengdu $16
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Qixia Mountain Ticket for Adult: $19
- Night Cruise on Outer Qinhuai River for Adults: $20
- Nanjing:Night Cruise-Qinhuai River&Night Visit-Zhonghua Gate: $29
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Nanjing Self-Guided Day Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $72
- 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 City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- City Wall and Zhonghua Gate Castle Area Guided Tour: $113
- 6-Hour Private Tour of Xiaoling Tomb,City Wall & Memorial Hall : $115
- Nanjing Private Night Tour: Confucian Temple Area, Ming City Wall, Laomendong: $116
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Customize Your China Tour 2024/2025: $5.00
- Ticket reservation for Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base: $15
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $16
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Optional Private Tour: $16
- Private Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket and Guide opt: $16
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $17
- Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan One-Day Private Tour: $17
- Panda Breeding Base Tickets Booking: $19
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $22
- Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding e-Ticket: $22
- Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $22
- Panda Base Tour/Ticket Only Option: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNanjing $9.57Chengdu $3.97
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nanjing and Chengdu, we can see that Nanjing is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chengdu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chengdu 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing than you might in Chengdu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nanjing Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nanjing or Chengdu?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Nanjing. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing and Chengdu, 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.
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.