Which place is cheaper, Hangzhou or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Nanjing or Hangzhou? 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.
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.
Hangzhou is a city in Eastern China, about an hour by train from Shanghai, renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. Each year it attracts more than 20 million tourists who come to see what the city has to offer. Set amongst the natural scenery of lakes and mountains, Hangzhou is modern city that coexists with the old. Historic pagodas and cultural sites built around the central lake sit like they belong amidst the skyscrapers and bustling markets of today.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $96, while the average daily cost in Hangzhou is $66. 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 Hangzhou in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Hangzhou? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hangzhou:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hangzhou:
Prices for flights to both Hangzhou 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hangzhou:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hangzhou.
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few actual costs in Hangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nanjing and Hangzhou, we can see that Nanjing is more expensive. And not only is Hangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hangzhou 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 Hangzhou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nanjing Expensive? and Is Hangzhou Expensive?.
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 64% larger than the population of Hangzhou. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing and Hangzhou, 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.
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.
Both Hangzhou and Nanjing are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
Nanjing is around the same temperature as Hangzhou in the summer. The daily temperature in Nanjing averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Hangzhou fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hangzhou. It's quite rainy in Nanjing. In July, Nanjing usually receives more rain than Hangzhou. Nanjing gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Hangzhou and Nanjing during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In the autumn, Nanjing is around the same temperature as Hangzhou. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nanjing in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Hangzhou averages at about 19°C (66°F).
Nanjing usually gets less rain in October than Hangzhou. Nanjing gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Nanjing and Hangzhou.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Hangzhou. It's quite cold in Nanjing in the winter. In January, Nanjing is generally much colder than Hangzhou. Daily temperatures in Nanjing average around 3°C (37°F), and Hangzhou fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In January, Nanjing usually receives less rain than Hangzhou. Nanjing gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Nanjing as well as Hangzhou.
Nanjing is around the same temperature as Hangzhou in the spring. The daily temperature in Nanjing averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and Hangzhou fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
It's quite rainy in Hangzhou. Nanjing receives a lot of rain in the spring. Nanjing usually gets less rain in April than Hangzhou. Nanjing gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Nanjing | Hangzhou | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
May | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 159 mm (6.3 in) |
Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |