Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Shenzhen?
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 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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Shenzhen Prices
China PricesPingyao Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShenzhen $147Pingyao $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $147, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $72. 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 $95Pingyao $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShenzhen $190Pingyao $48
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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Shenzhen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shenzhen $16Pingyao $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfers to/from Bao'an Airport(SZX): $20
- shenzhen airport private transfer: $31
- A One-Way Disneyland Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Hotel: $33
- AIRPORT TRANSFER service Kowloon with Mercedes Benz: $39
- Shenzhen Private transfer and Ongoing assistance: $39
- A Premium Airport Transfer Service Hong Kong with Mercedes Benz: $39
- Shenzhen Int Airport (SZX) to Shenzhen - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Hong Kong: Private Transfers From/to Hong Kong Airport(HKG): $41
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $44
- Hong Kong to Hong Kong Airport(HKG) - Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer - Kai Tak Cruise Port to Hong Kong Airport (HKG): $45
- Private Transfer - Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Port: $45
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$1.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:
- 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 $37Pingyao $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Shenzhen Food Tour with Locals: $47
- Hong Kong: 7-Course Hong Kong Street & Restaurant Food Tour: $59
- Best Street Food Tour With a Local Guide in Hong Kong: $95
- Kowloon Street Food Tour Private & Personalized with a Local: $172
- The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour: $189
- Kowloon Night Street Food Tour with a Local: Private & Customized: $198
- Private Hong Kong Top Night Tour: Cruise, Aquarium Dinner, Peak: $248
- Hong Kong Private Food Tour with Michelin Street Food: $294
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.30
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Mango Juice$0.74
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shenzhen $18Pingyao $20
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Introduction to Hong Kong: Central Tip Based Walking Tour: $2.62
- Between Capitalism & Communism: Hong Kong History Tip Based Tour: $2.62
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Hong Kong: $4.64
- Hong Kong Ghost Tour: $5.00
- Skip the Line! Walk to the Peak: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Victoria Peak: Climb to the summit via the Mid-Levels escalato on an audio tour: $5.40
- Yau Ma Tei: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in the Heart of Kowloon: $5.40
- Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Hong Kong Observation Wheel Ticket: $7.70
- Secret Hong Kong: Hidden Local Spots Self Guided Adventure: $8.13
- Markets in Motion: Audio Tour of Mong Kok: $8.99
- Hong Kong: Airport Express e-Ticket (Kowloon/HK/Tsing Yi): $11
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)$2.94
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.35
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.59
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: $170
- 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress: $206
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $76
- All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
- Day tour to Wang Family Compound shuanglin temple &zhangbi castle: $210
- One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
- Pingyao Private Tour: Shuanglin Temple And Wang's Compound: $269
- Pingyao Private Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $175
- Pingyao in One Day: Including City Highlights and Shuanglin Temple Private Tour: $204
- Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
- Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $164
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShenzhen $20Pingyao $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Shenzhen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Shenzhen:
- Hong Kong Pub Crawl at Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): $13
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.