Which place is cheaper, Sydney or Shenzhen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Shenzhen or Sydney?
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 Sydney 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 Sydney?
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.
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShenzhen $123Sydney $273
The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $123, while the average daily cost in Sydney is $273. 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 Sydney in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShenzhen $89Sydney $102
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShenzhen $178Sydney $204
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Sydney
Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen or Sydney? 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: Sydney Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shenzhen $15Sydney $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A Premium Airport Transfer Service, Meet us at the Arrival Hall!: $131
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Shenzhen Transfer: $71
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $118
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - Arrival Private Transfer : $45
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Port - Round- Trip Private Transfer : $90
- Hong Kong Airport HKG to Hong Kong Arrival Private Transfer: $58
- Hong Kong Airport Transfer: $177
- Hong Kong Disneyland: 1-Day Entry Ticket with Private Transfer: $162
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) Private Transfer: $30
- Hong Kong Private Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Terminal to Airport: $62
- Hong Kong Private Transfer from Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport to Hong Kong: $76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
-
Taxi Ride$13
-
Taxi to Airport$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Try find your better than us!AirportTransfer inSydney APT-HTL SYD: $62
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sydney HTL-APT (SYD): $62
- Transfer Between Airport & Hotels or Cruise Terminal: $13
- Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers: $248
- Private Transfer with Meet and Greet: $78
- Airport Shuttle Transfer to and from CBD Hotels: $36
- Sydney's Best Chauffeured Airport Arrival Transfers: $83
- Sydney to Sydney Airport (SYD) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Sydney Port Private Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to City: $28
- Sydney International Airport to/from Sydney One Way Transfer: $47
- Sydney Airport to White Bay Port transfer: $27
- Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD Private Transfer: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Sydney?
Prices for flights to both Sydney 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 dayShenzhen $20Sydney $44
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
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
-
Tea$2.60
-
Lunch Special$9.73
-
Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.73
-
Meat Pies$3.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- Vivid Lights Festival Pizza Cruise Tour in Vivid Sydney: $16
- VIVID Dinner Cruise with Complimentary Drink on Arrival: $36
- Vivid Sydney Harbor Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $46
- Admission to Vivid Dinner Cruise in Sydney : $46
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $50
- Sydney Street Art & Food Tour: $53
- Christmas in July Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $56
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $58
- Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Vivid Dinner Cruise: $58
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Small Group Refugee Chef Dinner Banquet at Bohemian Cafe: $63
- Kids Cooking Classes: $63
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shenzhen $17Sydney $31
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
- 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: $9.00
- Hong Kong Airport Express E-Ticket : $14
- Hong Kong Airport Express Train Tickets(Avoid Heavy Traffic): $15
- Lovely Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- [Entry After 6pm] sky100 Min. 2pax Ticket Offer (F-II_2P): $17
- Walking Tour in Hong Kong - Local Experience (New & Best) : $17
- TramOramic Sightseeing Tour plus 2-Day Tramways Ticket: $23
- sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck Tickets: $23
- Dukling Boat Tour in Victoria Harbour: $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Theatre Show$29
-
Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
-
Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$124
-
Powerhouse Museum$9.76
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Small-Group Sydney's Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai National Park Bus Tour: $228
- 2 Hours Sydney Harbour's True Crime Cruise Tour: $36
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in Sydney Harbour National Park : $36
- 3 Hours Abba Tribute Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $65
- 3 Hr Whale Watching Discovery Cruise in Sydney: $72
- 3-Hour Private Bike Tour with a Local Sydney Guide: $227
- 3.5 Hours Explore Bondi Beach and Sydney Sightseeing Tour: $195
- 4-Hour Freediving Taster Experience at Shelly Beach, Manly: $182
- Allianz Stadium Guided Walking Tour: $17
- Art Gallery of NSW: State of the Art Gallery Tour: $29
- Australia: Tourist eSIM Data Plan: $11
- Australian National Maritime Museum: All-Inclusive Ticket: $16
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayShenzhen $19Sydney $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
-
Wine$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Haunted Pub Tour with Local Guide: $20
- Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting: $56
- Urban Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Cheese Platter: $56
- Beach and Brew - Hike and Brewery (Men and Women): $73
- Balmain Pub Walking Tour: $76
- Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $83
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $102
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $111
- Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting: $121
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tour with Cheese Tasting: $143
- From Hunter Valley Multi-Brewery Tour with Lunch: $147
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shenzhen and Sydney, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Shenzhen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shenzhen is in Asia and Sydney 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 Shenzhen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shenzhen 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney than you might in Shenzhen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Sydney Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shenzhen or Sydney?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Shenzhen. When comparing the sizes of Shenzhen and Sydney, 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 Sydney?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sydney 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 Sydney in the Summer?
Both Sydney and Shenzhen during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Sydney because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Shenzhen is a little warmer than Sydney in the summer. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Sydney fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in January.
In Sydney, 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 Sydneyin January. Shenzhen gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sydney receives 236 hours of full sun.
Sydney 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 Sydneyin January. Shenzhen gets 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryShenzhen 30°C (85°F)Sydney 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Sydney in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenzhen and Sydney. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Sydney this time of year.
In the autumn, Shenzhen is a little warmer than Sydney. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Shenzhen in October average around 26°C (78°F), and Sydney averages at about 19°C (65°F)in April.
Shenzhen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sydney during autumn. Shenzhen gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Sydney receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Sydney receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Sydneyin April. Shenzhen gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilShenzhen 26°C (78°F)Sydney 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Sydney in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Shenzhen as well as Sydney. Additionally, many travelers come to Sydney for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Shenzhen is generally a little warmer than Sydneyin July. Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 16°C (60°F), and Sydney fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sydney. In the winter, Shenzhen often gets less sunshine than Sydneyin July. Shenzhen gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sydney receives 208 hours of full sun.
Shenzhen usually gets less rain in January than Sydneyin July. Shenzhen gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyShenzhen 16°C (60°F)Sydney 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Sydney in the Spring?
Both Sydney and Shenzhen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Sydney in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Shenzhen is a little warmer than Sydney in the spring. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Sydney fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Sydney. Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Sydney during spring. Shenzhen gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Sydney receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. In April, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Sydneyin October. Shenzhen gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberShenzhen 23°C (73°F)Sydney 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Sydney and Shenzhen
| Shenzhen | Sydney | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.