Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Taiyuan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Taiyuan or Guangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Taiyuan and Guangzhou. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Taiyuan or Guangzhou?
Taiyuan
With sleek architectural designs and blossoming businesses, this metropolis is simply brimming with invigorating excitement and once-in-a-lifetime entertainment. Despite its glimmering skyscrapers and gorgeous fountains, Taiyuan, China has an extensive history of nearly 2,500 years. During ancient China, Taiyuan, or the "Dragon City," was a major military town. Presently, this city is now one of China's most important industrial cities, producing more than half of the national coal mining output. Taiyuan is both the capital and largest city of the Shanxi province of North China. It is bounded by mountains on three of its sides, allowing this great city to be surrounded by fantastic views of its landscape. Besides its economic significance, Taiyuan also achieves tourist significance due to its plethora of landmarks and sights. Some of these attractions include Jinci Temple, Forest Park, Mengshan Giant Buddha, and Shanxi Museum. Taiyuan is also celebrated internationally for holding their annual Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Arts Festival, a celebration held in September that hosts exhibition of fine arts, painting, paper-cutting, sculpture, drama, acrobatic and the culture of costume. With such a great deal to do in such a limited window of time, it is best to make the most Taiyuan while you visit!
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaiyuan $90Guangzhou $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Taiyuan is $90, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $88. 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 Taiyuan and Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaiyuan $42Guangzhou $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaiyuan $84Guangzhou $114
Compare Hotels in Taiyuan and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Taiyuan or Guangzhou? 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.Taiyuan $47Guangzhou $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Shenzhen Day Tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Private Transfer: $255
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service, To Dongguan Transfer: $120
- Zhuhai City Private Arrival Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l Airport : $108
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Shenzhen Transfer: $100
- Fast Train Ticket from Guangzhou to Hong Kong with Station Transfer in Guanghou: $95
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Hotel to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: $88
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $88
- Guangzhou Airport Transfer by 6 seat mpv: $74
- Guangzhou Airport: Private Transfer to/from Guangzhou: $70
- Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou with Private Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Taiyuan or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou and Taiyuan 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 dayTaiyuan $20Guangzhou $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Guangzhou Evening Food Tour Through Local Neighborhood: $65
- Yum Cha Dim Sum Dinner and Pearl River Night Cruise Private Tour : $94
- Private Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Cruise: $107
- Private Guangzhou Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Night Cruise: $119
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $130
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- 3-Hour Guangzhou Private Cooking Class with Local Market Visit : $165
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
- Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Din Tai Feng Dinner: $199
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
- Private City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $215
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taiyuan $15Guangzhou $18
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- Private Tour of Foshan: The Ancestral Temple and Other Options from Guangzhou : $167
- 1 Day Guangzhou City Highlight Layover Tour from Airport: $276
- 1-Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private City Tour: $185
- 4 Hours Half Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private Tour: $145
- 4-Hour Chinese Tea Culture Tea Ceremony Tea Market Private Tour: $130
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $95
- 5-Hour Flexible Private Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Options: $130
- 6-Hour Private Tour for Layover Travellers via Guangzhou Airport: $145
- 7-Hour Customised Private Guangzhou Sightseeing and Shopping Tour: $153
- 9-Hour Gulong Gorge and Huangteng Gorge Glass Bridge Private Tour: $159
- 9-Hour Opium War Museum History Relic Private Tour from Guangzhou: $187
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaiyuan $6.29Guangzhou $14
When comparing the travel costs between Taiyuan and Guangzhou, we can see that Taiyuan 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taiyuan Expensive? and Is Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taiyuan or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Taiyuan. When comparing the sizes of Taiyuan and Guangzhou, 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.