Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Shenzhen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Shenzhen or Pingyao?
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 Pingyao 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 Pingyao?
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.
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
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 $126Pingyao $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $126, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $55. 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 Pingyao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShenzhen $91Pingyao $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShenzhen $182Pingyao $46
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Pingyao
Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen or Pingyao? 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 $15Pingyao $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A One-Way Hotel Pick-Up Transfer to Ocean Park Hong Kong: $26
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) Private Transfer: $28
- [Airport Transfer] Shenzhen Airport 送 迎 Shenzhen City Transfer High reputation for service! : $32
- Hong Kong Airport HKG Private Transfer to Kowloon City: $35
- Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to Hong Kong City - Arrival Private Transfer : $37
- Private Transfer from Hong Kong Hotels to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal: $37
- Private Transfer from Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to Hong Kong Hotels: $37
- Private Transfer from Shekou Cruise Port to Shenzhen city hotels: $43
- Private Transfer from Shenzhen Int Airport (SZX) to Shekou Port: $43
- Private Transfer from Shekou Cruise Port to Shenzhen Airport(SZX): $43
- Private Transfer from Shenzhen city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $43
- Private Transfer - Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Port: $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:
- Privater Transfer from Datong to Pingyao with driver: $115
- Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Pingyao?
Prices for flights to both Pingyao 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 $20Pingyao $20
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: $79
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $93
- Hong Kong Guided Dinner + Laser Show Lounge Entry (2023) | 200+ booked : $101
- 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
- Small Group Local Market Walking Tour and Chinese Cooking Class in Hong Kong: $132
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
- Private Food Tour With the Locals in Hong Kong: $148
- Hong Kong Food Tour with a Local: A Feast for Foodies 100% Personalized: $172
- Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private: $172
- Kowloon Night Street Food Tour with a Local: Private & Customized: $191
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.07
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Mango Juice$0.70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shenzhen $17Pingyao $19
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Hong Kong: $9.07
- Hong Kong Airport Express Ticket: $11
- Hong Kong Airport Express Ticket: $11
- One Way Express Ticket in Kowloon Station Hong Kong Airport: $12
- Hong Kong Airport Express E-Ticket : $14
- Round Trip Express Ticket in Tsing Yi Station Hong Kong Airport : $14
- Walking Tour in Hong Kong - Local Experience (New & Best) : $17
- [Entry After 6pm] sky100 Min. 2pax Ticket (F-II_2P): $17
- sky100 Tales of Hongkong Admission Ticket F-KE: $21
- Hong Kong Airport Express Tickets Kowloon Station Round Trip: $22
- Dukling Boat Tour in Victoria Harbour: $25
- Historia Tour of the Youngest Big4 City of Old China: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.82
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.05
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.56
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $113
- 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress : $206
- 2-Hour Guided Private Bike Tour to see the Hidden Pingyao & Tea Break: $60
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Highlights: $125
- All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
- By bullet train from Beijing to Pingyao 2days tour &Lunch: $490
- Day tour to Wang Family Compound shuanglin temple &zhangbi castle: $210
- Half-Day Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $65
- Mian Mountain Private Day Tour From Pingyao: $188
- One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $129
- Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $132
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShenzhen $19Pingyao $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shenzhen and Pingyao, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Pingyao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Pingyao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shenzhen or Pingyao?
Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Shenzhen and Pingyao, 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.
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.