Which place is cheaper, Macao or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Nanjing or Macao? 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.
Located in China, Macau is a Special Administrative Region and one of the world's most densely populated regions. Until 1999 it remained an overseas territory of Portugal. It sits across from Hong Kong, along the Pearl River Estuary. Because it was so recently relinquished as a colony, it still has a significant amount of visible colonial history. The old city still looks very European, which you can see during a walking tour. Despite this architectural influence, the majority of the city's population is native Chinese.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day 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 Macao is $142. 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 Macao in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Macao? 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 Macao:
Prices for flights to both Macao 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.
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few typical costs in Macao for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nanjing and Macao, we can see that Macao is more expensive. And not only is Nanjing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nanjing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nanjing 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 Macao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Macao than you might in Nanjing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nanjing Expensive? and Is Macao Expensive?.
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Macao. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing and Macao, 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.