Which place is cheaper, Ise or Qingdao?
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 Qingdao or Ise?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao or Ise, 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 Ise?
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.
Ise
A coastal city of Japan, Ise is best known for the Ise Shrine, arguably the holiest and most important Shinto site and the reputed home of the Emperor's Sacred Mirror. The shrine dates back to 4 BC and actually consists of two shrines: the inner shrine called Naiku and the outer shrine called Geku.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.
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Qingdao Prices
China PricesIse Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $73Ise $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $73, while the average daily cost in Ise is $110. 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 Ise in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $27Ise $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $54Ise $86
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Ise
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao or Ise? 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: Ise Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Qingdao $12Ise $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Qingdao Airport Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $80
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $54
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $53
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Qingdao or Ise?
Prices for flights to both Ise 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 $35Ise $43
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Qingdao $20Ise $6.04
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Qingdao After Dark: 4-Hour Illumination Tour with Options: $150
- Half Day Tour and Trek to Fushan Mountain: $170
- Private Qingdao highlights city tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- German Era Tour of Old Town Qingdao with Lunch and Beer Museum: $200
- Alternative City Tour with Navy Museum, Beer Street and TV Tower, Lunch Included: $200
- 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
Tours and Activities in Ise
Here are a few actual costs in Ise for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Express Tour of Japan’s Most Sacred Shrine: $47
- Full-Day Guided Tour of Shrines and Oharaimachi: $138
- Guided Bar-Hopping Tour with Food and Drinks: $85
- Ise Grand Shrine Morning Tour: $81
- Ise Grand Shrine and Okage Yokocho Guided Tour: $149
- Island Adventure Sea Kayak Tour(Ise-Shima): $47
- Toba Private Customizable Half Day Tour: $215
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQingdao $14Ise $4.68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Ise, we can see that Ise is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Ise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ise 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 Ise Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Qingdao or Ise?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ise. When comparing the sizes of Qingdao and Ise, 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.
When is the best time to visit Qingdao or Ise?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Qingdao or Ise in the Summer?
Both Ise and Qingdao during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Ise for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Qingdao is generally around the same temperature as Ise. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 25°C (77°F), and Ise fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In the summer, Qingdao often gets more sunshine than Ise. Qingdao gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun.
Ise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ise. Qingdao gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Ise receives 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQingdao 25°C (77°F)Ise 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Ise in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Ise. Also, many visitors come to Ise in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Qingdao is around the same temperature as Ise in the autumn. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Ise fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In Qingdao, it's very sunny this time of the year. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Ise during autumn. Qingdao gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 160 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Ise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Ise. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Ise receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQingdao 17°C (62°F)Ise 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Ise in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Ise. Also, most visitors come to Ise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Ise can be very cold during winter. Qingdao can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Qingdao is much colder than Ise. Typically, the winter temperatures in Qingdao in January average around -0°C (32°F), and Ise averages at about 5°C (40°F).
In the winter, Qingdao often gets more sunshine than Ise. Qingdao gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 165 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets less rain in January than Ise. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ise receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQingdao -0°C (32°F)Ise 5°C (40°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Ise in the Spring?
Both Ise and Qingdao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Ise because of the beaches.
In April, Qingdao is generally cooler than Ise. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 12°C (53°F), and Ise fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Ise during spring. Qingdao gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ise. In April, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Ise. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Ise receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQingdao 12°C (53°F)Ise 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Ise and Qingdao
| Qingdao | Ise | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.