A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pingyao vs. Cheju (Jeju) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pingyao or Cheju (Jeju)?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pingyao and Cheju (Jeju). We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pingyao or Cheju (Jeju)?

Pingyao

Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.

Cheju (Jeju)

Cheju is an island located just off the southern coast of South Korea in the Korean Strait. It is known for its volcanic landscape full of craters and cave-like lava tubes, which many visitors venture to hike and explore. With the main industry invested in tourism, it is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and foreigners alike, and remains the top honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in South Korea, and The Best Luxury Tours to South Korea.


Which place is cheaper, Cheju (Jeju) or Pingyao?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $54, while the average daily cost in Cheju (Jeju) is $72. 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 Pingyao and Cheju (Jeju) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pingyao $23
    Cheju (Jeju) $46
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pingyao $46
    Cheju (Jeju) $92
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Cheju (Jeju)

Looking for a hotel in Pingyao or Cheju (Jeju)? 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.

Hotels in Pingyao


Hotels in Cheju (Jeju)


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pingyao $13
    Cheju (Jeju) $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $1.38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:

  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
  • Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
  • Privater Transfer from Datong to Pingyao with driver: $115

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cheju (Jeju)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cheju (Jeju):

  • Jeju Airport Transfer: $20
  • Private Transfer From Seogwipo to Jeju Airport in jeju island: $25
  • Private Transfer From Jeju Airport to in Seogwipo Jeju Island : $30
  • Private Taxi Transfer from Jeju City Downtown to Jeju Airport: $50
  • jeju island Private Taxi Hallasan Hiking Trail Transfer - One way: $57
  • Private Sightseeing Tour to Jeju Island with Transfer Included: $190

Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Cheju (Jeju)?

Prices for flights to both Cheju (Jeju) and Pingyao 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pingyao $19
    Cheju (Jeju) $17
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for 2)
    $4.97
  • Mango Juice
    $0.69

Typical Food Prices in Cheju (Jeju)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cheju (Jeju):


  • Burger
    $4.49
  • Donkatsu (Charles Restaurant)
    $7.24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cheju (Jeju)

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cheju (Jeju).

  • Cooking Korean Cuisine and Dinner at Jeju Seaside Sunset Terrace: $108

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pingyao $18
    Cheju (Jeju) $5.49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:


  • All Day Bike Rental (for 2)
    $2.76
  • Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)
    $6.90
  • Bike Parking Fee (for 2)
    $0.55

Tours and Activities in Pingyao

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:

  • 2-Hour Guided Private Bike Tour to see the Hidden Pingyao & Tea Break: $60
  • Half-Day Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $65
  • Pingyao Food Walking Tour : $67
  • 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $113
  • Private Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple From Pingyao: $122
  • 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Highlights: $125
  • Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $129
  • Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $132
  • All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
  • Private Day Tour: Pingyao Highlights of Old Town and City Wall: $154
  • Private Old Town Highlights Day Tour: $160
  • Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $164

Tours and Activities in Cheju (Jeju)

Here are a few actual costs in Cheju (Jeju) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Visitors to Jeju Glass Museum and Experience: $25
  • [Jeju] Hanbok Rental Experience/Korean Traditional Clothes Rental Shop: $30
  • [Jeju] Woman Diver Haenyeo Traditional Clothes Rental Experience: $32
  • Full-Day Private Jumbo taxi Tour - East of Jeju Island (UNESCO): $55
  • Seogwipo(the southern city of Jeju) Art Museum Walking Tour: $55
  • Seogwipo (The Southern City of Jeju) Jungmun Area Walking Tour: $55
  • jeju Private Day Taxi tour - West of Jeju Island: $60
  • Seogwipo(The southern city of Jeju)City Walking Tours with Sunset: $60
  • Jeju island Southern Unesco Mt.halla ONE day Bus Tour: $63
  • Private Tour Cheonjeyeon Falls & Osulloc Museum in Jeju Island : $65
  • Jeju island Eastern UNESCO site Full Day Guided Tour: $66
  • Jeju Eastern Must visit Unesco Bus Tour: $66

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pingyao $13
    Cheju (Jeju) $7.12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pingyao and Cheju (Jeju), we can see that Cheju (Jeju) is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Cheju (Jeju) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cheju (Jeju) than you might in Pingyao.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pingyao Expensive? and Is Cheju (Jeju) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Cheju (Jeju)?

Cheju (Jeju) has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao and Cheju (Jeju), 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.