Which place is cheaper, Shenyang or Qingdao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Qingdao or Shenyang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao or Shenyang, 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 Shenyang?
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.
Shenyang
Shenyang, China is the capital, and largest, city in the Liaoning Province in northwest China which borders North Korea. Shenyang has a long, imperial, history and is the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty. The city has a blend of beautifully preserved architecture and modern buildings, creating a pleasant atmosphere for exploring!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Budget Tours to China, and The Best Tours for Seniors to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $59Shenyang $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $59, while the average daily cost in Shenyang is $72. 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 Shenyang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $27Shenyang $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $54Shenyang $84
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Shenyang
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao or Shenyang? 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.Qingdao $12Shenyang $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $85
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $85
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Qingdao or Shenyang?
Prices for flights to both Shenyang 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 $20Shenyang $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Qingdao $21Shenyang $7.90
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $245
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Private Qingdao city tour with Qingdao beer and Lunch: $240
- Private Qingdao highlights city tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private tour Qingdao laoshan with round way cable car lunch: $190
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQingdao $15Shenyang $5.98
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Shenyang, we can see that Shenyang 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 Shenyang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenyang 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 Shenyang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Qingdao or Shenyang?
Shenyang has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Qingdao. When comparing the sizes of Qingdao and Shenyang, 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 Shenyang?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Qingdao or Shenyang in the Summer?
Both Shenyang and Qingdao are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In July, Qingdao is generally around the same temperature as Shenyang. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 25°C (77°F), and Shenyang fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Shenyang. Qingdao usually receives less sunshine than Shenyang during summer. Qingdao gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Shenyang receives 214 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Shenyang. It's quite rainy in Qingdao. In July, Qingdao usually receives more rain than Shenyang. Qingdao gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Shenyang receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQingdao 25°C (77°F)Shenyang 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Shenyang in the Autumn?
Both Shenyang and Qingdao during the autumn are popular places to visit.
Qingdao is much warmer than Shenyang in the autumn. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Shenyang fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
In Shenyang, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Qingdao. In the autumn, Qingdao often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Shenyang. Qingdao gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shenyang receives 216 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets more rain in October than Shenyang. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Shenyang receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQingdao 17°C (62°F)Shenyang 10°C (51°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Shenyang in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Shenyang.
It's quite cold in Shenyang in the winter. The weather in Qingdao can be very cold. In the winter, Qingdao is much warmer than Shenyang. Typically, the winter temperatures in Qingdao in January average around -0°C (32°F), and Shenyang averages at about -11°C (13°F).
Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Shenyang during winter. Qingdao gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Shenyang receives 167 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Qingdao usually receives more rain than Shenyang. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Shenyang receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQingdao -0°C (32°F)Shenyang -11°C (13°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Shenyang in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Shenyang.
In April, Qingdao is generally a little warmer than Shenyang. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 12°C (53°F), and Shenyang fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Shenyang. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Qingdao this time of the year. In the spring, Qingdao often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Shenyang. Qingdao gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shenyang receives 241 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets less rain in April than Shenyang. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Shenyang receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQingdao 12°C (53°F)Shenyang 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Shenyang and Qingdao
| Qingdao | Shenyang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | -11°C (13°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | -7°C (19°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -7°C (19°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.