Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen or Taiyuan?
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 Taiyuan or Shenzhen?
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 Shenzhen. 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 Shenzhen?
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!
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.
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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Taiyuan Prices
China PricesShenzhen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaiyuan $106Shenzhen $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Taiyuan is $106, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $139. 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 Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaiyuan $43Shenzhen $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaiyuan $86Shenzhen $180
Compare Hotels in Taiyuan and Shenzhen
Looking for a hotel in Taiyuan or Shenzhen? 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 $48Shenzhen $15
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 to Macau 7 seat MPV private transfer or vice versa.: $275
- Private Transfer from Shekou Cruise Port to Guangzhou hotels: $194
- Private Transfer from Shekou Port to Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN): $194
- Private Transfer from Shenzhen Airport (SZX) to Guangzhou: $159
- HONG KONG Airport Private Transfer Service: $148
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Port - Round- Trip Private Transfer : $139
- Private Transfer: Hong Kong Airport HKG to Hong Kong City in Business Car: $119
- Private Transfer: Hong Kong to Airport HKG by Business Car: $119
- Hong Kong Airport Transfer: $118
- Transfer Hong Kong to Hong Kong Airport by Luxury Van or Sedan: $112
- Hong Kong Airport Transfer Experience with Style and Comfort: $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Taiyuan or Shenzhen?
Prices for flights to both Shenzhen 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 $36Shenzhen $35
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: $37
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $98
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $107
- Secret Food Tour With the Locals in Tin Hau Hong Kong w/ Private Tour Option: $109
- Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $115
- Small Group Local Market Walking Tour and Chinese Cooking Class in Hong Kong: $131
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $145
- Private Food Tour in Hong Kong: $148
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $149
- Hong Kong Private & Personalized Food Tour with a Local: $174
- The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $176
- Traditional Fried Noodle Cooking Class in Hong Kong: $183
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taiyuan $15Shenzhen $17
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Explore Hong Kong Disneyland with Ticket and Pass: $154
- Shenzhen Self-Guided Flexible Tour with Private Car and Driver : $86
- (Private class) Hong Kong gourmet baking experience class: Hong Kong-style egg tart + custard mooncake: $88
- 24-hour Shenzhen Double-Decker Sightseeing Bus Tour: $20
- 4-Hour Private Hong Kong Layover Tour: $280
- 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $102
- 5-Hour Private Customized Walking Tour in Hong Kong: $264
- A Taste of Hong Kong: Private Tour With Locals : $136
- Ancient Shenzhen meets modern Shenzhen guided tour: $48
- Aqua Luna: Evening Cruise at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong: $40
- Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $49
- Between Two Systems: Hong Kong's Living History Tip Based Tour: $1.31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaiyuan $6.38Shenzhen $19
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): $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taiyuan and Shenzhen, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Taiyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Taiyuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Taiyuan 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 Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen than you might in Taiyuan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taiyuan Expensive? and Is Shenzhen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taiyuan or Shenzhen?
Taiyuan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Shenzhen. When comparing the sizes of Taiyuan and Shenzhen, 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.