Which place is cheaper, Nara or Qingdao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Qingdao or Nara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao or Nara, 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 Nara?
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.
Nara
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $58Nara $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $58, while the average daily cost in Nara is $85. 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 Nara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $26Nara $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $52Nara $104
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Nara
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao or Nara? 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: Nara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Qingdao $12Nara $5.83
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 Nara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nara:
- Kansai Airport (KIX)：Private One-Way Transfer to/from Nara: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Qingdao or Nara?
Prices for flights to both Nara 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 $20Nara $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
- Eel Fishing and Cooking Experience in Kyoto: $72
- Cooking class, learning how to make authentic sushi: $111
- Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $189
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Qingdao $20Nara $7.81
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 Nara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
- 1 Day Walking Tour in Nara Palace Deer and Inkstick: $166
- 1-Day Walking Tour in Palace, Deer and Inkstick: $147
- All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $42
- EBike Eco Chic Tour Explore 1300 Year Old Primeval Forest: $88
- Eigo Tour - Walk in Nara City: $65
- Experience Authentic Sushi making in Nara: $115
- Guided Tour of Todai ji and Nara Park: $83
- Guided Uji Anime Walking Tour: $31
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour : Nara Imperial Palace: $95
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour to Nara City: $95
- Immersive Experience Tour in Totsukawa village: $3,202
- Katsuragi: Unique Sumo Experience: $195
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQingdao $14Nara $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Nara, we can see that Nara 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 Nara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nara 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 Nara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Qingdao or Nara?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Nara. When comparing the sizes of Qingdao and Nara, 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 Nara?
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 Nara in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Nara. Also, most visitors come to Nara for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Qingdao is generally around the same temperature as Nara. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 25°C (77°F), and Nara fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In the summer, Qingdao often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nara. Qingdao gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 183 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Nara. Qingdao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Qingdao usually gets more rain in July than Nara. Qingdao gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Nara receives 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQingdao 25°C (77°F)Nara 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Nara in the Autumn?
Both Nara and Qingdao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Nara because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Qingdao is around the same temperature as Nara in the autumn. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Nara fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Nara during autumn. Qingdao gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. In October, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Nara. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Nara receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQingdao 17°C (62°F)Nara 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Nara in the Winter?
Both Nara and Qingdao during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nara this time of year.
It's quite cold in Nara in the winter. The weather in Qingdao can be very cold. In the winter, Qingdao is much colder than Nara. Typically, the winter temperatures in Qingdao in January average around -0°C (32°F), and Nara averages at about 4°C (40°F).
In the winter, Qingdao often gets more sunshine than Nara. Qingdao gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 140 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets less rain in January than Nara. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Nara receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQingdao -0°C (32°F)Nara 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Nara in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Nara. Furthermore, many travelers come to Nara for the natural beauty.
In April, Qingdao is generally cooler than Nara. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 12°C (53°F), and Nara fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In Qingdao, it's very sunny this time of the year. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Nara during spring. Qingdao gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
Nara receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Nara. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Nara receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQingdao 12°C (53°F)Nara 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Nara and Qingdao
| Qingdao | Nara | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 128 mm (5.1 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 214 mm (8.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 41 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.