Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise or Shenzhen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Shenzhen or Surfers Paradise?
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 Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise?
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.
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShenzhen $123Surfers Paradise $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $123, while the average daily cost in Surfers Paradise is $104. 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 Surfers Paradise in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShenzhen $89Surfers Paradise $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShenzhen $178Surfers Paradise $132
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Surfers Paradise
Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen or Surfers Paradise? 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 $15Surfers Paradise $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Shenzhen Airport 送 迎 Shenzhen City Transfer High reputation for service! : $32
- 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
- Shenzhen to Shenzhen Airport (SZX) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Shenzhen Private Transfer from Shenzhen central to Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX): $79
- Shenzhen Private Transfer from Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX) to central Shenzhen: $79
- Shenzhen Int Airport (SZX) to Shenzhen - Arrival Private Transfer: $47
- Shenzhen Bao'an Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $49
- Shenzhen Airport (SZX): Private Transfer to/from Shenzhen: $48
- Shenzhen Airport (SZX) to Round Trip Private Transfer: $94
- Shenzhen Airport (SZX) to Guangzhou - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $105
- Private Transfer: Hong Kong City to Hong Kong Airport HKG in Luxury Van: $133
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to Brisbane/BNE Airport from Gold Coast/OOL Airport( 1-7 pax): $229
- Private Transfer from Gold Coast Airport - Surfers Paradise: $50
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Airports to Surfers Paradise: $106
- Luxury Private Transfer between Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast city (1-7pax) : $89
- Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $14
- Gold Coast Hot Air Balloon + Winery Breakfast + Return Transfers: $291
- Gold Coast Airport Transfers Corporate Chauffeurs Gold Coast: $119
- All-Inclusive Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise (Gold Coast Transfer): $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Surfers Paradise?
Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise 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 $20Surfers Paradise $26
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 Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shenzhen $17Surfers Paradise $23
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$78
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Evening Rainforest & Glow Worm Experience - Small Group Tour: $79
- 1.5hr Jetski Tour with island stopover - SELF DRIVE - NO LICENCE NEEDED: $185
- 2.5hrs Jetski Tour with island stopover / Self Drive / Surfers Paradise: $259
- Barefoot Luxury Mount Tamborine Winery Tour from Gold Coast: $151
- Body Massage Experience in Gold Coast : $98
- Buffet Lunch Sightseeing Cruise: $59
- Catch a Crab Tour with Optional Seafood Lunch: $53
- Glow Worms - Nocturnal Rainforest/Waterfall Adventure: $72
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $30
- Gold Coast City Lights Cruise: $37
- Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise Day Pass: $30
- Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShenzhen $19Surfers Paradise $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shenzhen and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Surfers Paradise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shenzhen is in Asia and Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Surfers Paradise Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shenzhen or Surfers Paradise?
Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Shenzhen and Surfers Paradise, 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 Surfers Paradise?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Surfers Paradise is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Shenzhen has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Shenzhen or Surfers Paradise in the Summer?
Both Surfers Paradise and Shenzhen are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Shenzhen is a little warmer than Surfers Paradise in the summer. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Surfers Paradise. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Shenzhen. Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Surfers Paradise during summer. Shenzhen gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 256 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. In July, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Surfers Paradisein January. Shenzhen gets 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryShenzhen 30°C (85°F)Surfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Surfers Paradise in the Autumn?
Both Surfers Paradise and Shenzhen during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Surfers Paradise this time of year.
In the autumn, Shenzhen is a little warmer than Surfers Paradise. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Shenzhen in October average around 26°C (78°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 22°C (71°F)in April.
In Surfers Paradise, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Shenzhen often gets less sunshine than Surfers Paradisein April. Shenzhen gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 214 hours of full sun.
Surfers Paradise 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 October than Surfers Paradisein April. Shenzhen gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilShenzhen 26°C (78°F)Surfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Surfers Paradise in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenzhen and Surfers Paradise. Furthermore, many travelers come to Surfers Paradise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Shenzhen is generally around the same temperature as Surfers Paradisein July. Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 16°C (60°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Surfers Paradise this time of the year. Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Surfers Paradise during winter. Shenzhen gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Shenzhen usually receives less rain than Surfers Paradisein July. Shenzhen gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyShenzhen 16°C (60°F)Surfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Surfers Paradise in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Shenzhen as well as Surfers Paradise. Additionally, many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the spring for the beaches.
Shenzhen is a little warmer than Surfers Paradise in the spring. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 21°C (69°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. In the spring, Shenzhen often gets less sunshine than Surfers Paradisein October. Shenzhen gets 95 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 259 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Surfers Paradise. Shenzhen receives a lot of rain in the spring. Shenzhen usually gets more rain in April than Surfers Paradisein October. Shenzhen gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberShenzhen 23°C (73°F)Surfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Surfers Paradise and Shenzhen
| Shenzhen | Surfers Paradise | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 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.