Should you visit Sichuan or Shandong?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sichuan or Shandong, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Sichuan
The Sichuan Provence of China is a fairly large Provence in the south central area near Tibet. The area has a wealth of history, natural beauty, and is famous for their cuisine which is known worldwide. You'll find that most young people in larger cities speak some English, although the majority of the area speaks a variant of Mandarin.
Shandong
Shandong Province, China is located on the Yellow Sea in the north eastern part of the country, with the Yellow River running throughout the province. The province is known for their natural beauty, ancient temples, and pristine cities. The province as a whole does not see many tourists, so expect to get some very friendly attention, especially when traveling through smaller cities.
Which city is cheaper, Shandong or Sichuan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sichuan is $43, while the average daily cost in Shandong is $46. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Sichuan and Shandong in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Sichuan can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $18, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $36.
Shandong's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $38. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $19.
Food
Sichuan food costs typically run travelers around $18 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
In Shandong travelers spend around $15 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Sichuan $18
Shandong $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sichuan
For Sichuan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Chengdu Private Food Tour (With Visit to Kuanzhai Alley and Hotpot Experience):
$32
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Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Sanxingdui Museum Private Day Tour with Hotpot Dinner:
$76
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Dim Sum Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit in Shanghai:
$78
-
Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
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Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
-
Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shandong
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shandong.
-
Chengdu Private Food Tour (With Visit to Kuanzhai Alley and Hotpot Experience):
$32
-
Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Sanxingdui Museum Private Day Tour with Hotpot Dinner:
$76
-
Dim Sum Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit in Shanghai:
$78
-
Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
-
Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
-
Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
Local Transportation
Sichuan's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $4.95 per person, per day on transportation in Sichuan.
The cost of a taxi ride in Shandong is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $9.33 per person, per day, on local transportation in Shandong.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sichuan
Also for Sichuan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Coach Transfers between Shenzhen Bay Port and Hong Kong (Trans-island):
$6.45
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Shared Coach Transfers between Panyu and Hong Kong by Eternal East Bus:
$11
-
Shared Shenzhen Airport (SZX) Coach Transfers for Hong Kong (Trans-Island):
$12
-
Shared Coach Transfers Between Hong Kong and Zhaoqing by EE Bus:
$12
-
Shared Coach Transfers between Foshan and Hong Kong by Eternal East Bus:
$13
-
Shared Coach Transfers between Hong Kong and Huadu by Eternal East Bus:
$13
-
Shared Coach Transfers Between Guangzhou and Hong Kong:
$14
-
Shared Coach Transfers between Foshan and Hong Kong:
$14
-
Shared Coach Transfers between Shunde and Hong Kong:
$14
-
Shared Coach Transfers Between Heyuan and Hong Kong by EE Bus:
$15
-
Shared Hong Kong International Airport Transfers (HKG) for Shenzhen:
$15
-
Private Harbin Railway Station Transfer for Harbin:
$20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shandong
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shandong:
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Private City Transfers between Zhongshan and Hong Kong:
$313
-
Private City Transfers between Foshan and Hong Kong:
$296
-
Private City Transfers between Guangzhou and Hong Kong:
$283
-
Private City Transfers between Huizhou and Hong Kong :
$230
-
Private MPV City Transfer between Guangdong & Hong Kong:
$187
-
Private Transfers Between Xiamen City and Gaobei Tulou Cluster & Chuxi Tulou Cluster:
$186
-
Private Changsha Huanghua International Airport Transfers (CSX) for Downtown Zhangjiajie or Wulingyuan District:
$186
-
Private Transfers between Dongguan and Hong Kong :
$159
-
Private City Transfers Between Xiamen and Zhangzhou Volcanic Island Resort:
$147
-
Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster & Yun Shui Yao Ancient Town:
$147
-
Private Transfers Between Xiamen City and Yongding Tulou:
$147
-
Private City Transfers between Shenzhen and Hong Kong Island, Kowloon & New Territories:
$134
Is it cheaper to fly into Sichuan or Shandong?
Prices for flights to both Shandong and Sichuan 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Sichuan can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $14 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Entertainment and activities in Shandong typically cost an average of $18 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Sichuan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sichuan.
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Hupao Park Ticket in Hangzhou (For Mainland China ID Holders):
$2.35
-
China Red Sandalwood Museum Ticket in Beijing :
$2.79
-
Simatai Great Wall Admission with Cable Car Ticket in Beijing:
$3.09
-
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket Chengdu - ID Card Direct Entry:
$4.19
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Evergreen Resort Ticket in Shenzhen:
$6.19
-
Jinxi Ancient Town Attractions Combo Ticket:
$6.99
-
Gulangyu Seashell Museum Ticket:
$7.45
-
Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Sanqiutian Pier:
$8.55
-
Wuyishan Xiamei Ancient Village Admission Ticket:
$8.55
-
Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Neicuoao Pier:
$8.55
-
Shanghai Joy City Rooftop Ferris Wheel - Sky Ring Ticket:
$9.29
-
Beijing Palace Museum Ticket (The Forbidden City):
$9.29
Tours and Activities in Shandong
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shandong are as follows:
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Lionsgate Entertainment World Ticket in Henqin Zhuhai :
$31
-
2 Days Shanghai Private Tour:
$178
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2D1N Mount Emei Monastery Cultural Tour:
$51
-
2D1N Mount Emei Tour from Chengdu:
$199
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2D1N Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha Tour from Chengdu:
$216
-
3 Day Essential Hangzhou Private Tour:
$297
-
3 Day Guilin Highlights & Rice Terraces Private Tour:
$222
-
4 Day Guilin and Yangshuo Private Tour:
$348
-
Anchang Ancient Town and Yangshan Stone Quarry Day Private Tour from Hangzhou:
$61
-
Baofeng Lake Admission Ticket in Zhangjiajie (with Boat Ride) :
$16
-
Barca Experience Ticket in Haikou:
$20
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Beijing Alleys, Beihai Park, and Prince Gong's Mansion Private Day Tour:
$76
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Sichuan, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $3.22.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Shandong per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When comparing the travel costs between Sichuan and Shandong, we can see that Shandong 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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