Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Qingdao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Qingdao or Airlie Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao or Airlie Beach, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Qingdao or Airlie Beach?
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $58Airlie Beach $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $58, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $141. 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 Qingdao and Airlie Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $26Airlie Beach $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $52Airlie Beach $116
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Airlie Beach
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao or Airlie Beach? 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: Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Qingdao $12Airlie Beach $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Whitsunday: Prosperpine Airport to Airlie Beach Transfer: $16
- Whitehaven Beach Club Transfers from Airlie Beach: $92
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $59
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $47
- Return Transfer PPP Airport Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
- One Way Only - Airport Transfer share shuttle service: $17
- Crayfish Beach Hook Island Camping Transfer: $139
- Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service: $28
- Private Transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport: $314
Is it cheaper to fly into Qingdao or Airlie Beach?
Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Qingdao 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 dayQingdao $20Airlie Beach $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
- 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $72
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Qingdao $20Airlie Beach $160
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- 1 hour Mimosa Morning Turtle Spotting Cruise: $59
- 1-Day Whitsunday Islands Cruise: Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet: $140
- 2 Hour Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise: $59
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- Airlie Beach Jet Ski Tour: $105
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
- Airlie Beach sightseeing Tour: $50
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
- Adults-Only Whitehaven Beach Sailing Tour: $182
- Airlie Adventure Jet Ski Tour: $163
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQingdao $14Airlie Beach $8.99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Qingdao is in Asia and Airlie Beach is in Pacific, 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 Qingdao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Qingdao 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 Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach than you might in Qingdao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Qingdao Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Qingdao or Airlie Beach?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Airlie Beach is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Qingdao has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Qingdao or Airlie Beach in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Airlie Beach. Additionally, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Qingdao is around the same temperature as Airlie Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Qingdao in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. In the summer, Qingdao often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin January. Qingdao gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Airlie Beach. Qingdao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Qingdao usually gets less rain in July than Airlie Beachin January. Qingdao gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryQingdao 25°C (77°F)Airlie Beach 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?
Both Airlie Beach and Qingdao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Qingdao is generally cooler than Airlie Beachin April. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 17°C (62°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Airlie Beach during autumn. Qingdao gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. In October, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin April. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilQingdao 17°C (62°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Airlie Beach in the Winter?
Both Airlie Beach and Qingdao during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Airlie Beach because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Qingdao can be very cold during winter. Qingdao is much colder than Airlie Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around -0°C (32°F) in January, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Qingdao often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin July. Qingdao gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets less rain in January than Airlie Beachin July. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyQingdao -0°C (32°F)Airlie Beach 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Airlie Beach in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Airlie Beach. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.
In the spring, Qingdao is much colder than Airlie Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Qingdao in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. In Qingdao, it's very sunny this time of the year. Qingdao usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during spring. Qingdao gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin October. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberQingdao 12°C (53°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Qingdao
| Qingdao | Airlie Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) |
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.