Which place is cheaper, Kamakura 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 Kamakura?
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 Kamakura. 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 Kamakura?
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.
Kamakura
An old city center of medieval Japan, Kamakura sits today on the seaside just south of Tokyo. Due to its early beginnings, the city is dotted with Buddhist Zen temples and Shinto shrines. It has become a prominent resort town drawing visitors with its many historic landmarks as well as nearby beaches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.
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Pingyao Prices
China PricesKamakura Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPingyao $69Kamakura $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $69, while the average daily cost in Kamakura is $123. 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 Kamakura in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPingyao $23Kamakura $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPingyao $46Kamakura $156
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Kamakura
Looking for a hotel in Pingyao or Kamakura? 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: Kamakura Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pingyao $13Kamakura $15
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$1.40
Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Kamakura?
Prices for flights to both Kamakura 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 $34Kamakura $36
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.05
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Mango Juice$0.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kamakura
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kamakura.
- Sushi Roll Bento Cooking Class: $59
- Community Dinner with Locals: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pingyao $19Kamakura $5.79
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)$2.80
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.01
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.56
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
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
- From Taiyuan: UNESCO Historic Temples & Grand Mansions Tour: $276
Tours and Activities in Kamakura
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kamakura are as follows:
- Ofuna Kannon Temple and Japanese Sweets Tour: $27
- Authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience in Kamakura: $37
- Walking Tour through the City of Samurai: $44
- Kamakura; First Samurai Capital walking tour: $47
- Kamakura (Ofuna) : Ramen Crawl Tour with a Local Guide: $51
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu & Komachi Street Tour: $51
- Visit Daibutsu and shopping experience: $52
- Private History and Heritage Tour by Rickshaw: $54
- Night Izakaya Bar Hopping Tour: $57
- Half day Walking tour & Japanese sweets: $57
- Customized Half-Day Tour with Local Guide: $59
- Kamakura:Largest Wooden Buddha, Temples, Cultural Experience: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPingyao $14Kamakura $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pingyao and Kamakura, we can see that Kamakura 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 Kamakura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kamakura 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 Kamakura Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Kamakura?
Kamakura has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao and Kamakura, 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.