Which place is cheaper, Beijing or Shenzhen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Shenzhen or Beijing?
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 Beijing 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 Beijing?
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.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShenzhen $123Beijing $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $123, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $75. 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 Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShenzhen $89Beijing $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShenzhen $178Beijing $78
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen or Beijing? 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.Shenzhen $14Beijing $7.68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A One-Way Disneyland Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Hotel: $33
- A One-Way Hotel Pick-Up Transfer to Ocean Park Hong Kong: $26
- A Premium Airport Transfer Service: $89
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Shenzhen Transfer: $71
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - Arrival Private Transfer : $46
- Hong Kong Airport HKG Private Transfer to Kowloon City: $31
- Hong Kong Airport HKG to Hong Kong Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- Hong Kong Airport Transfer: $177
- Hong Kong Airport to Hong Kong City Private Arrival Transfer: $92
- Hong Kong City to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - Departure Private Transfer : $37
- Hong Kong Disneyland: 1-Day Entry Ticket with Private Transfer: $162
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.69
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Train from Airport for Two$6.88
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Taxi to Hotel$8.25
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2 Metro Passes$2.20
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Metro$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- [Airport Transfer] Beijing Capital Airport ⇔ Beijing City Transfer (one way) ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $30
- Ultimate Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall Discovery with Airport Transfer: $177
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Beijing APT-HTL (PEK): $62
- Transfers to Jinshanling Great Wall with professional driver: $95
- Tianjin International Cruise Port to Beijing Capital Airport by private transfer: $148
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Transfer from Beijing: $130
- Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Beijing International Airport: $153
- Tianjin Binhai Airport to Beijing - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $160
- Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City Private Tour With Airport Transfer: $205
- The Great Wall Jinshanling PRIVATE TRANSFER From Beijing : $105
- Tank Driving Experience (hotel pickup & Roundtrip Transfer): $450
- Round-Trip to International Horticultural Expo Garden by Private Transfer: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing 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
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Food Meals for one dayShenzhen $20Beijing $19
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
- Hong Kong Guided Dinner + Laser Show Lounge Entry (2023) | 200+ booked : $100
- Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $108
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District: $108
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $108
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
- The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $163
- Hong Kong Crazy Rich Asian Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private : $166
- Hong Kong Food Tour with a Local: A Feast for Foodies 100% Personalized: $166
- Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private: $166
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.83
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Hot Pot Dinner$6.88
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.75
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Watermelon$1.93
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$16
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Two Popsicles$0.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef : $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $60
- Beijing Gulou Night Market Food Tour: $75
- discovery more Beijing back street evening food tour with locals : $79
- Old Beijing Dinner Tour: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shenzhen $17Beijing $24
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line! Walk to the Peak: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Hong Kong Airport Express E-Ticket : $14
- Hong Kong Airport Express Train Tickets(Avoid Heavy Traffic): $15
- [Entry After 6pm] sky100 Min. 2pax Ticket Offer (F-II_2P): $17
- sky100 Tales of Hongkong Admission Ticket F-KE: $21
- Dukling Boat Tour in Victoria Harbour: $25
- Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ticket on Lantau Island: $26
- Historia Tour of the Youngest Big4 City of Old China: $30
- Victoria Harbour Yacht Night Cruise - DREAMER: $31
- Dialogue in the Dark Tour [Recommended!]: $33
- Kowloon Walking Tour on the Dark Side of Hong Kong: $33
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.25
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Two Opera Tickets$58
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.63
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Forbidden City (for 2)$17
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Forbidden City Tickets$17
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Small-Group Tour of Beijing Highlights, No Shopping: $258
- 4-Hour Beijing Layover Tour to Hutong from Daxing Airport: $145
- All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour: $188
- All Inclusive Private Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour: $204
- All Inclusive Private Tour: Juyongguan Greatwall, Sacred Road, MingTombs : $176
- Beijing 2 Summer Palace Private Garden Tour: $140
- Beijing Art Tour: Seeing Fantastic Ming Murals at Fa Hai Temple : $220
- Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $121
- Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
- China National Museum Ticket Pre-booking and Tiananmen Square : $50
- Classic One Day Beijing Tour: $228
- Forbidden City Tour : $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShenzhen $19Beijing $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $99
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Private Tour-Drum Tower, Hutong Food Taste and Local Brewery Beer: $120
- Full Day Private Chateau Changyu Wine Tour from Beijing: $165
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shenzhen and Beijing, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shenzhen or Beijing?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Shenzhen. When comparing the sizes of Shenzhen and Beijing, 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 Shenzhen or Beijing?
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 Shenzhen or Beijing in the Summer?
Both Beijing and Shenzhen during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
Shenzhen is a little warmer than Beijing in the summer. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Beijing fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Shenzhen. In the summer, Shenzhen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Beijing. Shenzhen gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 224 hours of full sun.
Beijing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Shenzhen. Shenzhen usually gets more rain in July than Beijing. Shenzhen gets 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyShenzhen 30°C (85°F)Beijing 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Beijing in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenzhen and Beijing. Also, many travelers come to Beijing for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Shenzhen is much warmer than Beijing. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Shenzhen in October average around 26°C (78°F), and Beijing averages at about 14°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Beijing during autumn. Shenzhen gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Beijing. Shenzhen gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberShenzhen 26°C (78°F)Beijing 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Beijing in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Shenzhen as well as Beijing. Also, many visitors come to Beijing in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Beijing can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Shenzhen is generally much warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 16°C (60°F), and Beijing fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. In the winter, Shenzhen often gets less sunshine than Beijing. Shenzhen gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 201 hours of full sun.
Shenzhen usually gets more rain in January than Beijing. Shenzhen gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryShenzhen 16°C (60°F)Beijing -4°C (26°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Beijing in the Spring?
Both Beijing and Shenzhen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Shenzhen is much warmer than Beijing in the spring. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
It's quite sunny in Beijing. Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Beijing during spring. Shenzhen gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. In April, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Beijing. Shenzhen gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilShenzhen 23°C (73°F)Beijing 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Beijing and Shenzhen
| Shenzhen | Beijing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.