Which place is cheaper, Beijing or Skopje?
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 Skopje or Beijing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Skopje or Beijing? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Skopje or Beijing?
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to North Macedonia, The Best Budget Tours to North Macedonia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Skopje Prices
North Macedonia PricesBeijing Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySkopje $74Beijing $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Skopje is $74, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $96. 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 Skopje and Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSkopje $53Beijing $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSkopje $106Beijing $84
Compare Hotels in Skopje and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Skopje or Beijing? 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: Skopje Hotel Prices and Beijing Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Skopje $5.30Beijing $8.25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$5.04
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Train from Airport for Two$7.38
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Taxi to Hotel$8.86
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2 Metro Passes$2.36
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Metro$0.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with Round Airport Transfers: $208
- 1-Way Private Transfer between Beijing Airport and City Hotels: $35
- Acrobatics Show with Private Driver Service and Hotel Round Transfer: $105
- Afternoon Bus Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall + Entry Ticket: $20
- Airport Layover Transfer Service to Mutianyu Great Wall & City Sightseeing: $112
- Badaling Great Wall Entrance Ticket with Guide/Transfer Service: $9.50
- Badaling Great Wall Ticket, Transfer & Guide Service: $10
- Badaling Night Great Wall Ticket Show and Optional Transfer: $45
- Beijing Acrobatics Show And Peking Opera Tour With Transfer: $299
- Beijing Airport Transfer: $21
- Beijing Airport Transfer From Beijing Downtown Hotel: $28
- Beijing Airport(PEK /PKX) Private Transfer From Beijing City: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Skopje or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing and Skopje 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 daySkopje $12Beijing $36
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.89
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Hot Pot Dinner$7.38
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.95
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Watermelon$2.07
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$18
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Two Popsicles$0.89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $25
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $54
- China's Favourite Street Food Cooking Workshop: $55
- Private Local Food Tour in Beijing with a Local Guide: $59
- Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Beijing Hidden Hutong Bike & Food Tour - Pro Photos Included: $71
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $72
- Classic Peking Opera, Local Dinner&Old Beijing Houhai Night Tour: $73
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Skopje -Beijing $26
Tours and Activities in Skopje
Here are a few actual costs in Skopje for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Skopje Classic one-day tour from Sofia: $135
- Skopje Day Trip from Sofia – Small Group Tour: $141
- 2 days tour from Sofia to North Macedonia: $304
- From Sofia: Kosovo and North Macedonia 2-Day Tour: $393
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.86
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Two Opera Tickets$63
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$10
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Forbidden City (for 2)$18
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Forbidden City Tickets$18
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$12
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Entrance Tickets: Coal Hill Park, Beihai Park & Drum-Bell Towers: $2.50
- Capital Museum tour includes Ticket: $2.78
- Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Entry Ticket: $2.90
- Tian’anmenSquare or Forbidden City Online Ticket Booking: $2.92
- Forbidden City/ Palace Museum & Tiananmen Sq. Ticket Booking: $2.99
- Tian'amen Square & Forbidden City Tickets or Guided Group Tour: $3.00
- Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Ticket Booking Service: $3.00
- Forbidden City/Palace Museum and Tiananmen Square Entry Ticket: $3.00
- Beijing:Tiananmen Square tickets with guide(optional): $3.19
- Forbidden City Walking Guided Tour w/ Entry Tickets: $3.60
- Tiananmen Square Registration Service(Ticket): $3.79
- Tickets to all Beijing attractions (Forbidden City optional): $4.21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySkopje -Beijing $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Skopje and Beijing, we can see that Beijing is more expensive. And not only is Skopje much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Skopje is in Europe and Beijing is in Asia, 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 Skopje would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Skopje 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 Beijing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beijing than you might in Skopje.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Skopje Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Skopje or Beijing?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Skopje. When comparing the sizes of Skopje and Beijing, 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.