Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao or Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
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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Qingdao Prices
China PricesZhangjiajie Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $77Zhangjiajie $83
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $77, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $83. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $28Zhangjiajie $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $56Zhangjiajie $64
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao or Zhangjiajie? 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: Qingdao Hotel Prices and Zhangjiajie Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Qingdao $13Zhangjiajie $15
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 Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $77
- Qingdao Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $52
- Qingdao Liuting Airport private Transfer Service by Car, MPV: $45
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie:Tianmen Mountain & Cable Car Ticket with the transfer: $114
- Glass Bridge & Canyon ticket with the transfer: $117
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
- Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
- Zhangjiajie Forest Park 4 Day Pass and All You Can Ride Transfers: $98
- Zhangjiajie DYG Airport Private Transfer to City & Wulingyuan: $24
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie to/from Fenghuang: $149
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $321
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Qingdao or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $37Zhangjiajie $38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Qingdao $22Zhangjiajie $24
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Alternative City Tour with Navy Museum, Beer Street and TV Tower, Lunch Included: $200
- Bespoke Qingdao Private Tour on BMW Convertible or BYD 4WD SUV: $229
- German Era Tour of Old Town Qingdao with Lunch and Beer Museum: $200
- Half Day Tour and Trek to Fushan Mountain: $170
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Premium Qingdao Private Tour Coastal Scenery and Culture: $210
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $196
- 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: $230
- Qingdao After Dark: 4-Hour Illumination Tour with Options: $150
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $270
- 1 day tour Avatar Mountain and Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge: $215
- 1-2 Days All-inclusive Tours: Mt Avatar, Glass Bridge, Mt Tianmen: $99
- 1-2 Days Group Tour to Avatar & Tianmen Mountain & Glass Bridge: $99
- 1-Day Best Mini Group & Private Tours to Mt. Avatar & Forest Park: $57
- 1-Day Fenghuang Tour from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) by Round-way Bullet Train: $240
- 1-Day Mini Group & Private Tours to Glass Bridge & Mt. Tianmen: $99
- 1-Day Private Tour to Avatar Mountain & 72 Wonder Tower: $109
- 1-Day Private Tour to Glass Bridge & Grand Canyon & Baofeng Lake: $107
- 1-Day Private Tour to Mt.Tianmen & Furong Town Night Illumination: $156
- 1-Day Private Tour to Mt.Tianmen & Glass Skywalk & Night Light: $146
- 1-Day Private Tour to Tianmen Mountain with Tujia Customs Park: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQingdao $15Zhangjiajie $17
When comparing the travel costs between Qingdao and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Zhangjiajie 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Qingdao Expensive? and Is Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Qingdao or Zhangjiajie?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Qingdao and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Zhangjiajie.
In July, Qingdao is generally cooler than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 25°C (77°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the summer. Qingdao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Qingdao usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Qingdao gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQingdao 25°C (77°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Zhangjiajie.
Qingdao is around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie in the autumn. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
Qingdao usually gets less rain in October than Zhangjiajie. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQingdao 17°C (62°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
Both Zhangjiajie and Qingdao are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Qingdao can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Qingdao is much colder than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the winter temperatures in Qingdao in January average around -0°C (32°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 5°C (42°F).
In January, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQingdao -0°C (32°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
Both Zhangjiajie and Qingdao during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Qingdao is generally cooler than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 12°C (53°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Zhangjiajie gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Qingdao usually gets less rain in April than Zhangjiajie. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQingdao 12°C (53°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Qingdao
| Qingdao | Zhangjiajie | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.