Which place is cheaper, Hongcun or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nanjing or Hongcun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nanjing or Hongcun? 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 Hongcun?
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.
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.
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 $97Hongcun $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $97, while the average daily cost in Hongcun is $53. 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 Hongcun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNanjing $47Hongcun $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNanjing $94Hongcun $46
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Hongcun
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Hongcun? 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 $39Hongcun $12
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 Hongcun?
Prices for flights to both Hongcun 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 $29Hongcun $19
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
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.93
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.11
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nanjing $9.45Hongcun $18
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNanjing $9.65Hongcun $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nanjing and Hongcun, we can see that Nanjing 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 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 Hongcun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nanjing Expensive? and Is Hongcun Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Nanjing or Hongcun?
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 Hongcun in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nanjing and Hongcun.
In the summer, Nanjing is around the same temperature as Hongcun. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nanjing in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Hongcun averages at about 29°C (85°F).
Hongcun receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nanjing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nanjing usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hongcun. Nanjing gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNanjing 28°C (83°F)Hongcun 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Hongcun in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nanjing as well as Hongcun.
In October, Nanjing is generally around the same temperature as Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Nanjing average around 17°C (63°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
Nanjing usually gets less rain in October than Hongcun. Nanjing gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNanjing 17°C (63°F)Hongcun 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Hongcun in the Winter?
Both Hongcun and Nanjing are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Hongcun in the winter. The weather in Nanjing can be very cold. Nanjing is much colder than Hongcun in the winter. The daily temperature in Nanjing averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Hongcun fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
In January, Nanjing usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Nanjing gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNanjing 3°C (37°F)Hongcun 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Hongcun in the Spring?
Both Hongcun and Nanjing during the spring are popular places to visit.
In the spring, Nanjing is around the same temperature as Hongcun. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nanjing in April average around 15°C (60°F), and Hongcun averages at about 17°C (62°F).
Hongcun gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nanjing. Nanjing usually gets less rain in April than Hongcun. Nanjing gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNanjing 15°C (60°F)Hongcun 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Hongcun and Nanjing
| Nanjing | Hongcun | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.