A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Shenzhen vs. Whitsundays for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Shenzhen or Whitsundays?

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 Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays?

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.

Whitsundays

Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.

As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Shenzhen?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $140, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $155. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Shenzhen $91
    Whitsundays $69
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Shenzhen $182
    Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Whitsundays

Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen or Whitsundays? 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.

Hotels in Shenzhen


Hotels in Whitsundays


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Shenzhen $15
    Whitsundays $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen

Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shenzhen Customized Local Tour with Transfer : $299
  • Hong Kong Private Transfer to Macau hotel over Bridge: $265
  • Private Transfer from Shekou Port to Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN): $175
  • Luxury Private Airport Transfer: Hong Kong International Airport: $150
  • Hong Kong Private Transfer — Victoria Peak ⇄ Tian Tan Big Buddha: $148
  • Private Transfer: Airport HKG to Hong Kong by Luxury Van: $146
  • Private Transfer: Hong Kong to Airport HKG by Luxury Van: $146
  • HK Airport to Cruise Terminal Rounded-Trip Private Transfer by Lexus Luxury Car: $141
  • Hong Kong Hassle free Airport Transfers in Tesla or Benz: $138
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Hongkong Airport to Shenzhen City: $128
  • Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to Hong Kong City - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $124
  • Hong Kong Airport Transfer: $119

Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Whitsundays?

Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 day
    Shenzhen $35
    Whitsundays $52

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Locals - Dim Sum, Wonton & more: $53
  • Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $98
  • Explore Hong Kong: Mid-Autumn Festival Food Tour: $103
  • Discover Hong Kong’s Hidden Eats on a Tin Hau Food Tour: $109
  • Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $116
  • Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
  • Private Food Tour in Hong Kong: $148
  • Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $149
  • The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $176
  • Hong Kong Private & Personalized Food Tour with a Local: $177
  • Asian Favorites Cooking Class in Hong Kong (4-Course Meal): $184
  • Hong Kong Style Noodles Cooking Class (Includes 4-Course Meal): $184

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays

For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset Dinner Cruise: $99

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Shenzhen $17
    Whitsundays $25

Tours and Activities in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Custom private tour of Hong Kong Island - Half day: $228
  • Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ticket in Hong Kong: $24
  • Seat-in-Coach: Macau Day Tour with Simple Lunch from Hong Kong: $185
  • Shenzhen Self-Guided Flexible Tour with Private Car and Driver : $87
  • (Private class) Hong Kong gourmet baking experience class: Hong Kong-style egg tart + custard mooncake: $89
  • 4-Hour Private Hong Kong Layover Tour: $280
  • 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $103
  • Aberdeen Fishing Village Private Tour by Minivan: $232
  • Aberdeen fisherman cultural tour+dim sum by local: $140
  • Afternoon Hiking Tour Sharp Island Geopark: $40
  • Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $49
  • Best Seller: VIP Lantau Tai O Tour Priority Cable Car, Big Buddha: $95

Tours and Activities in Whitsundays

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.

  • Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $164
  • MILADY Whitsundays 2-Night Private Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,953

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Shenzhen $19
    Whitsundays $12

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): $46


When comparing the travel costs between Shenzhen and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Shenzhen is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Shenzhen or Whitsundays?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenzhen and Whitsundays.

In the summer, Shenzhen is a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the summer temperatures in Shenzhen in July average around 30°C (85°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. In Shenzhen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during summer. Shenzhen gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Shenzhen usually receives around the same amount of rain as Whitsundaysin January. Shenzhen gets 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Shenzhen 30°C (85°F) 
    Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Shenzhen or Whitsundays in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Shenzhen as well as Whitsundays.

In October, Shenzhen is generally a little warmer than Whitsundaysin April. Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 26°C (78°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the autumn, Shenzhen often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin April. Shenzhen gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Shenzhen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Shenzhen usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Whitsundaysin April. Shenzhen gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Shenzhen 26°C (78°F) 
    Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Shenzhen or Whitsundays in the Winter?

Both Whitsundays and Shenzhen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

Shenzhen is around the same temperature as Whitsundays in the winter. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 16°C (60°F) in January, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during winter. Shenzhen gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Shenzhen usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin July. Shenzhen gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Shenzhen 16°C (60°F) 
    Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)

Should I visit Shenzhen or Whitsundays in the Spring?

Both Whitsundays and Shenzhen during the spring are popular places to visit.

In the spring, Shenzhen is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the spring temperatures in Shenzhen in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.

In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Shenzhen often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin October. Shenzhen gets 95 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Shenzhen. Shenzhen usually gets more rain in April than Whitsundaysin October. Shenzhen gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Shenzhen 23°C (73°F) 
    Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)

Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Shenzhen

Shenzhen Whitsundays
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 16°C (60°F) 26 mm (1 in) 26°C (79°F) 331 mm (13 in)
Feb 16°C (61°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 377 mm (14.8 in)
Mar 19°C (66°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 312 mm (12.3 in)
Apr 23°C (73°F) 154 mm (6.1 in) 23°C (73°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 325 mm (12.8 in) 20°C (68°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Jun 29°C (83°F) 382 mm (15 in) 17°C (63°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Jul 30°C (85°F) 323 mm (12.7 in) 16°C (62°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 29°C (85°F) 393 mm (15.5 in) 18°C (65°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 300 mm (11.8 in) 20°C (68°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Oct 26°C (78°F) 143 mm (5.6 in) 23°C (73°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Nov 21°C (70°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Dec 17°C (63°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 26°C (78°F) 191 mm (7.5 in)


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