Which place is cheaper, Zurich 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 Zurich?
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 Zurich. 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 Zurich?
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.
Zurich
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland.
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Pingyao Prices
China PricesZurich Prices
Switzerland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPingyao $72Zurich $355
The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $72, while the average daily cost in Zurich is $355. 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 Zurich in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPingyao $24Zurich $192
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPingyao $48Zurich $384
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Zurich
Looking for a hotel in Pingyao or Zurich? 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 $14Zurich $40
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 Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
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City Pass (2)$32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Zurich Airport ZRH Private Transfer to Zurich/Lucerne/Interlaken: $48
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Zurich Airport to Zurich: $69
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport: $69
- Transfer from Zurich City Center to Zurich Airport (ZRH): $78
- Transfer from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Zurich City Center: $81
- Private Transfer Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Sedan: $87
- Eco Minivan or Sedan Transfer Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City: $87
- Private Transfer Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich by Luxury Sedan: $87
- Airport Transfer: Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich by Business Car: $96
- Airport Transfer: Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Business Car: $96
- Departure Private Transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Van: $101
- Arrival Private Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City by Luxury Van: $101
Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Zurich?
Prices for flights to both Zurich 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 $36Zurich $121
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
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zurich
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zurich.
- Zurich Food Tour with 10 Local Delicacies, Cheeses & Chocolates: $174
- Taste Zurich – A Full Food Tour of Swiss Flavors by Do Eat Better: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pingyao $20Zurich $40
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 Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- Zurich Audio Guided Walking Tour 1h45 and 20 audio reviews: $6.84
- Stein am Rhein Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.83
- Zurich Old Town Walking Tour: $18
- Zurichs Powerful Women Tour: $25
- Zurich Old Town Walking Tour: $32
- Zurich 1 Hour Scenic Lake Cruise Ticket: $33
- Last Minute Ticket to Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum: $37
- Swiss Chocolate Walking Tour of Zurich: $39
- Zürich Historic District Tour: $42
- Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum last minutes Ticket: $45
- Zurich Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum Entry Ticket: $46
- City e-bike tour: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPingyao $14Zurich $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pingyao and Zurich, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pingyao is in Asia and Zurich is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich 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 Zurich Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Zurich?
Zurich has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao and Zurich, 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.