A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Shenzhen vs. Alice Springs for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Shenzhen or Alice Springs?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Shenzhen and Alice Springs can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Shenzhen or Alice Springs?

Shenzhen

Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions.  It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.

Alice Springs

Alice Springs is in the middle of Central Australia and is most famous as a base for exploring the famous rock, Uluru. Alice Springs itself has grown dramatically from what was once a small outpost. The tourist boom began in the early 1980s and the population is now somewhere around 28,000. The city now has all of the necessary facilities to cater to the influx of tourists who swing through to see Uluru. The town is 1500km from Darwin, which is the closest major city. Adelaide is just as far to the south. It's remote location means that costs can be higher than they are elsewhere in Australia. Expect to pay more for anything from fruits and vegetables to clothing and souvenirs. When making a reservation for a hotel, do note that the rating scale differs from elsewhere in Australia or in most western countries. The ratings come from the amenities available and have little to do with the actual room quality.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Alice Springs or Shenzhen?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $123, while the average daily cost in Alice Springs is $95. 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 Shenzhen and Alice Springs in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Shenzhen $89
    Alice Springs $50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Shenzhen $178
    Alice Springs $100
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Alice Springs

Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen or Alice Springs? 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.

Hotels in Shenzhen


Hotels in Alice Springs


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: Alice Springs Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Shenzhen $15
    Alice Springs $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen

Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Hong Kong Airport Transfer: $177
  • Hong Kong Disneyland: 1-Day Entry Ticket with Private Transfer: $162
  • Private Transfer: Hong Kong City to Hong Kong Airport HKG in Luxury Van: $133
  • A Premium Airport Transfer Service, Meet us at the Arrival Hall!: $131
  • Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $118
  • Private Transfer: Hong Kong Airport HKG to Hong Kong City in Business Car: $116
  • Luxury Private Tesla Transfer: Hong Kong International Airport (From/To HKG): $114
  • Transfer Hong Kong to Hong Kong Airport by Luxury Van or Sedan: $112
  • Transfer Hong Kong Airport to Hong Kong by Luxury Van or Sedan: $112
  • Private Airport Transfer Shenzhen Airport - Guangzhou: $106
  • Shenzhen Airport (SZX) to Guangzhou - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $105
  • Shenzhen Airport (SZX) to Round Trip Private Transfer: $94

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alice Springs

Also for Alice Springs, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Uluru to Alice Springs or Alice to Uluru 1-Way Luxe Transfer: $127

Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Alice Springs?

Prices for flights to both Alice Springs and Shenzhen 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Shenzhen $20
    Alice Springs $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Vegetarian Food Tour: $77
  • Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $90
  • Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District: $108
  • Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $108
  • Secret Food Tour With the Locals in Tin Hau Hong Kong w/ Private Tour Option: $109
  • Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $112
  • Hong Kong Food Tour with a Local: A Feast for Foodies 100% Personalized: $160
  • Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private: $160
  • The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $161

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alice Springs

For Alice Springs, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • From Day Trip to Uluru with BBQ Dinner: $219
  • Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs Including BBQ Dinner: $233

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Shenzhen $17
    Alice Springs $14

Tours and Activities in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Shenzhen Self-Guided Flexible Tour with Private Car and Driver : $86
  • (Private class) Hong Kong gourmet baking experience class: Hong Kong-style egg tart + custard mooncake: $88
  • 2.5-Hour Shenzhen City-Village Walking Tour: Back In The 90's & TikTok Influence: $51
  • 4-Hour Private Hong Kong Layover Tour: $263
  • 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $103
  • 60 Minutes Virtual Reality Experience in Hong Kong: $37
  • A Private Tour of Hong Kong with Mercedes-Benz: $275
  • Afternoon Hiking Tour Sharp Island Geopark: $38
  • Aqua Luna: Evening Cruise at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong: $40
  • Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $49
  • Authentic Hong Kong Private Tour: $275
  • Big Bus Hong Kong Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour: $50

Tours and Activities in Alice Springs

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Alice Springs.

  • A Town Like Alice: Half-Day Tour of Alice Springs: $95
  • Alice Springs Camel Tour: $59
  • Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket: $26
  • Alice Springs Desert Park Nocturnal Tour: $28
  • Alice Springs Highlights Tour : $109
  • West MacDonnell Ranges & Standley Chasm Tour: $121
  • Alice Town And Country Half Day Sunset Tour - Small Group: $125
  • Alice Town and Country Half Day Sunset Tour -Small Group: $123
  • Australia’s Red Centre: A Self-Guided West Macs Driving Tour: $9.99
  • Best of Alice Springs Full Day Tour: $162
  • East Mac's Adventure Day Tour Mondays and Fridays: $125
  • East MacDonnell Ranges Half day Tour -Small Group: $225

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Shenzhen $19
    Alice Springs $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Alice Springs

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Alice Springs:


  • Glass of Wine in Alice Springs
    $4.54


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shenzhen and Alice Springs, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Alice Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shenzhen is in Asia and Alice Springs 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 Alice Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alice Springs 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 Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen than you might in Alice Springs.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Alice Springs Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Shenzhen or Alice Springs?

Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Alice Springs. When comparing the sizes of Shenzhen and Alice Springs, 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.