Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao or Lake Tekapo, 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 Lake Tekapo?
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.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.
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Qingdao Prices
China PricesLake Tekapo Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $73Lake Tekapo $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $73, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $84. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $27Lake Tekapo $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $54Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao or Lake Tekapo? 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: Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Qingdao $12Lake Tekapo -
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 Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 $35Lake Tekapo $22
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Qingdao $20Lake Tekapo -
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 Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $71
- Christchurch: Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo Small Group Day Tour: $173
- Christchurch: Mt Cook Full-Day Private Tour via Lake Tekapo: $180
- Christchurch: to Queenstown via Mt Cook 1 Way Tour: $231
- Dark Sky Indoor Maori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $36
- Highlights Tour with Tasting & Sunset in Oia: $116
- Lake Tekapo Fishing Tour: $191
- Lake Tekapo Guided 4WD Tours (Small Group, Carbon Positive): $173
- Lake Tekapo High Country Farm Tour (Carbon Positive): $86
- Lake Tekapo Scenic 4WD Cass Valley Wilderness Tour: $202
- Lake Tekapo Scenic Wilderness Cass Valley Tour: $208
- Lake Tekapo Ultimate Stargazing Experience: $118
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQingdao $14Lake Tekapo -
When comparing the travel costs between Qingdao and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Qingdao is in Asia and Lake Tekapo is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Qingdao Expensive? and Is Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Qingdao or Lake Tekapo?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 4980 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Qingdao and Lake Tekapo, 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.