Which place is cheaper, Sydney or Qingdao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Qingdao or Sydney?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao or Sydney, 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 Sydney?
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.
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $58Sydney $273
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $58, while the average daily cost in Sydney is $273. 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 Sydney in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $26Sydney $102
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $52Sydney $204
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Sydney
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao or Sydney? 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: Sydney Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Qingdao $12Sydney $15
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 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: $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
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Taxi Ride$13
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Taxi to Airport$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Try find your better than us!AirportTransfer inSydney APT-HTL SYD: $62
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sydney HTL-APT (SYD): $62
- Transfer Between Airport & Hotels or Cruise Terminal: $13
- Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers: $248
- Private Transfer with Meet and Greet: $78
- Airport Shuttle Transfer to and from CBD Hotels: $36
- Sydney's Best Chauffeured Airport Arrival Transfers: $83
- Sydney to Sydney Airport (SYD) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Sydney Port Private Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to City: $28
- Sydney International Airport to/from Sydney One Way Transfer: $47
- Sydney Airport to White Bay Port transfer: $27
- Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD Private Transfer: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Qingdao or Sydney?
Prices for flights to both Sydney 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 $20Sydney $44
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
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Tea$2.60
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Lunch Special$9.73
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Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.73
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Meat Pies$3.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- Vivid Lights Festival Pizza Cruise Tour in Vivid Sydney: $16
- VIVID Dinner Cruise with Complimentary Drink on Arrival: $36
- Vivid Sydney Harbor Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $46
- Admission to Vivid Dinner Cruise in Sydney : $46
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $50
- Sydney Street Art & Food Tour: $53
- Christmas in July Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $56
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $58
- Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Vivid Dinner Cruise: $58
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Small Group Refugee Chef Dinner Banquet at Bohemian Cafe: $63
- Kids Cooking Classes: $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Qingdao $20Sydney $31
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Theatre Show$29
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Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
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Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$124
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Powerhouse Museum$9.76
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Small-Group Sydney's Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai National Park Bus Tour: $228
- 2 Hours Sydney Harbour's True Crime Cruise Tour: $36
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in Sydney Harbour National Park : $36
- 3 Hours Abba Tribute Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $65
- 3 Hr Whale Watching Discovery Cruise in Sydney: $72
- 3-Hour Private Bike Tour with a Local Sydney Guide: $227
- 3.5 Hours Explore Bondi Beach and Sydney Sightseeing Tour: $195
- 4-Hour Freediving Taster Experience at Shelly Beach, Manly: $182
- Allianz Stadium Guided Walking Tour: $17
- Art Gallery of NSW: State of the Art Gallery Tour: $29
- Australia: Tourist eSIM Data Plan: $11
- Australian National Maritime Museum: All-Inclusive Ticket: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQingdao $14Sydney $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
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Wine$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Haunted Pub Tour with Local Guide: $20
- Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting: $56
- Urban Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Cheese Platter: $56
- Beach and Brew - Hike and Brewery (Men and Women): $73
- Balmain Pub Walking Tour: $76
- Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $83
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $102
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $111
- Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting: $121
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tour with Cheese Tasting: $143
- From Hunter Valley Multi-Brewery Tour with Lunch: $147
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Sydney, we can see that Sydney 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 Sydney 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Qingdao or Sydney?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Qingdao. When comparing the sizes of Qingdao and Sydney, 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 Sydney?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sydney 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 Sydney in the Summer?
Both Sydney and Qingdao during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sydney this time of year.
Qingdao is a little warmer than Sydney in the summer. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Sydney fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in January.
In Sydney, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Qingdao often gets less sunshine than Sydneyin January. Qingdao gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sydney receives 236 hours of full sun.
Sydney gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually gets more rain in July than Sydneyin January. Qingdao gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryQingdao 25°C (77°F)Sydney 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Sydney in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Sydney. Also, many travelers come to Sydney for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Qingdao is cooler than Sydney. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Qingdao in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Sydney averages at about 19°C (65°F)in April.
In Qingdao, it's very sunny this time of the year. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Sydney during autumn. Qingdao gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Sydney receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Sydney receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Sydneyin April. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilQingdao 17°C (62°F)Sydney 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Sydney in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Sydney. Also, many visitors come to Sydney in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Qingdao. In January, Qingdao is generally much colder than Sydneyin July. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around -0°C (32°F), and Sydney fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sydney. In the winter, Qingdao often gets less sunshine than Sydneyin July. Qingdao gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sydney receives 208 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets less rain in January than Sydneyin July. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyQingdao -0°C (32°F)Sydney 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Sydney in the Spring?
Both Sydney and Qingdao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Sydney for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
Qingdao is much colder than Sydney in the spring. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Sydney fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Sydney. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sydney during spring. Qingdao gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Sydney receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Sydneyin October. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberQingdao 12°C (53°F)Sydney 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Sydney and Qingdao
| Qingdao | Sydney | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.