Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Pingyao?
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 Pingyao or Chengdu?
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 Chengdu. 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 Chengdu?
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.
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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Pingyao Prices
China PricesChengdu Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPingyao $72Chengdu $70
The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $72, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $70. 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 Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPingyao $24Chengdu $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPingyao $48Chengdu $44
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Pingyao 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Chengdu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pingyao $14Chengdu $6.32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.47
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Panda Research Base Ticket or Private Transfer Tour: $15
- Leshan Giant Buddha Entry Ticket with Optional Guide & Transfer: $18
- Chengdu Panda Breeding Base Tour with Guide or Transfer: $20
- Chengdu Panda Breeding Base Ticket w/ Optional Transfer or Guide: $20
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU): $23
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport Chauffeur Service, Chengdu Airport Transfer, Pickup: $25
- Private Transfer from Chengdu hotel to Chengdu Train Station: $27
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu: $28
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chengdu Railway Station to City Hotel: $28
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu City - Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- Chengdu City to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
- Hassle-Free & Comfortable Airport Transfer Service: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu 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
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Food Meals for one dayPingyao $36Chengdu $40
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.30
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Mango Juice$0.74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- 成都蜀宴赋Han Culture Dinner Show in Chengdu: $28
- Chengdu Vegetarian Cooking Class at a Local Home: $39
- Chengdu Night: VIP Seat Opera Show or Back Alley Food Tour: $40
- Private Chengdu TukTuk Food Tour: Hidden Alleys & Local Eats: $59
- Chengdu Food Tour Local Delicacies and Ear Cleaning: $59
- Chengdu Hidden Street Food Tour Spice Trails: $60
- Eat Like a Local! Food Tour in the Hidden Alleys: $67
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking with a Local Market Visit: $69
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $73
- Evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pingyao $20Chengdu $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.94
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.35
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.59
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $76
- All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
- Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $164
- 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $170
- Pingyao Private Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $175
- One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
- Pingyao in One Day: Including City Highlights and Shuanglin Temple Private Tour: $204
- Private Day Tour: Pingyao Highlights of Old Town and City Wall: $205
- 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress: $206
- Day tour to Wang Family Compound shuanglin temple &zhangbi castle: $210
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bamboo Weaving Experience and Chengdu Wenshu Monastery: $5.00
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $9.00
- Panda Research Base Ticket or Volunteer Day Trip: $9.50
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Optional Private Tour: $14
- Chengdu Giant Panda Base Ticket: $15
- Ticket reservation for Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base: $15
- Chengdu Panda Base Tickets with Optional Private Tour Upgrade: $16
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $16
- Half-Day Panda Base Tour with Guide Option: $17
- Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum Ticket for Adult: $18
- Panda Breeding Base Tickets Booking: $19
- Chengdu panda Base Tickets with Optional Private Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPingyao $14Chengdu $4.19
Sample the Local Flavors in Chengdu
Also in Chengdu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chengdu Pub Crawl: $10
- Tipsy Travel: Chengdu Evening Food and Bar Crawl with Local Guide: $138
When comparing the travel costs between Pingyao and Chengdu, we can see that Pingyao is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pingyao Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Chengdu?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao 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.