Which place is cheaper, Hangzhou or Pingyao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pingyao or Hangzhou?
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 Hangzhou. 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 Hangzhou?
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.
Hangzhou
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPingyao $55Hangzhou $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $55, while the average daily cost in Hangzhou is $67. 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 Hangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPingyao $23Hangzhou $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPingyao $46Hangzhou $48
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Hangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Pingyao 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pingyao $13Hangzhou $8.34
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$1.42
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hangzhou:
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Local Bus for Two$0.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hangzhou:
- Private Hangzhou Departure Transfer Service: Hotel to Hangzhou Train Station: $21
- Private Transfer between Hangzhou Songcheng Park and City Area: $23
- Private Transfer to Impression West Lake show in Hangzhou: $27
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int'l Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $29
- Hangzhou Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Hangzhou East Railway Station Transfer To Hangzhou Downtown City: $32
- Hangzhou Downtown transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport: $35
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport To Hangzhou downtown city one way private transfer: $35
- Private Transfer between Hangzhou Safari Park and City Hotels: $37
- Private Hangzhou Airport Transfer from Railway Station: $41
- Hangzhou to Shanghai Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Hangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Hangzhou 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 $20Hangzhou $18
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.11
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Mango Juice$0.71
Typical Food Prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hangzhou:
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Breakfast Pastries$2.41
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Pizza Hut Lunch$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hangzhou.
- All Inclusive Night Tour with Impression West Lake Show VIP Ticket and Dinner: $117
- Private Amazing Hangzhou Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option : $170
- Wuzhen Ancient Water Town Private Night Tour from Hangzhou with Dinner Option: $185
- Xitang Water Town Private Night Tour from Hangzhou with Dinner: $203
- Hangzhou Private Tour to Wuzhen Water Town with Lunch or Dinner: $213
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pingyao $19Hangzhou $21
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)$2.84
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.09
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.57
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
- 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
Tours and Activities in Hangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Hangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Authentic Hangzhou Longjing Tea Culture Experience Tour : $53
- Hangzhou Longjing Tea Plantation Culture Experience Tour: $53
- Best Price: Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $59
- Skip the Line: Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $65
- Zuiyi Hangzhou Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $75
- Skip the Line Impression West Lake VIP Seat Ticket: $75
- Hangzhou West Lake Highlights Half Day Tour : $85
- Half-Day Hangzhou Tianzhu Buddhist Mountain Hiking Tour with Green Tea Village : $89
- Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Show Ticket with Private Transport: $89
- Hangzhou Private Amazing English Tour Guide Service: $90
- Night Tour with Impression West Lake Show VIP Ticket and Hefang Heritage Street : $95
- Hangzhou Impressoin West Lake- Enduring Memory of Hangzhou Show Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPingyao $14Hangzhou $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pingyao and Hangzhou, we can see that Hangzhou 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 Hangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hangzhou 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 Hangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Hangzhou?
Hangzhou has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao 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.
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.