Should you visit Taiyuan or Shenzhen?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Shenzhen or Taiyuan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Taiyuan is $81, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $111. 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 Taiyuan and Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Taiyuan, $76 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Taiyuan, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $38, such as in a hostel.
Travelers usually pay around $160 for a double occupancy room in Shenzhen If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Taiyuan cost around $18 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $7.20.
In Shenzhen travelers spend around $18 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
Taiyuan $18
Shenzhen $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taiyuan
For Taiyuan, 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
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Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
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Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
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Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The best night food tour in SZ: ten tastings:
$29
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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
To get around in Taiyuan, the average visitor spends $42 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Shenzhen'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 $13 per person, per day on transportation in Shenzhen.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taiyuan
Also for Taiyuan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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[Up to 20% Off] Private City Transfers for Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing :
$23
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[Up to 15% Off for Round Trip Transfers] Private Beijing Capital Airport Transfers (PEK) for Beijing :
$37
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Yangshuo and Li River Highlights Day Tour with Transfers:
$111
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Taiyuan Wusu Airport Chauffeur Service, Taiyuan Airport Transfer, Pickup:
$27
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Taiyuan Wusu Airport Chauffeur Service , Taiyuan Airport Transfer,Pickup:
$64
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Taiyuan Wusu Airport Chauffeur Service , Taiyuan Airport Transfer,Pickup:
$31
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Taiyuan Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Hotels:
$24
-
Taiyuan Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station:
$56
-
Taiyuan Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$56
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Taiyuan Private Airport Departure Transfer from City Hotels:
$56
-
Shared Shenzhen Airport (SZX) Coach Transfers for Hong Kong (Trans-Island):
$12
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Shared Hong Kong International Airport Transfers (HKG) for Shenzhen:
$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private City Transfers between Zhongshan and Hong Kong:
$313
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Private City Transfers between Foshan and Hong Kong:
$296
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Private City Transfers between Guangzhou and Hong Kong:
$283
-
Private City Transfers between Huizhou and Hong Kong :
$230
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Private Arrival Transfer : Shenzen Airport to Hong Kong:
$193
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Private MPV City Transfer between Guangdong & Hong Kong:
$187
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Private Transfers Between Xiamen City and Gaobei Tulou Cluster & Chuxi Tulou Cluster:
$186
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Private Changsha Huanghua International Airport Transfers (CSX) for Downtown Zhangjiajie or Wulingyuan District:
$186
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Private Transfers between Dongguan and Hong Kong :
$159
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Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster & Yun Shui Yao Ancient Town:
$147
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Private City Transfers Between Xiamen and Zhangzhou Volcanic Island Resort:
$147
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Private Transfers Between Xiamen City and Yongding Tulou:
$147
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.
Entertainment
In Taiyuan, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $14 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Shenzhen can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Taiyuan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Taiyuan.
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Lionsgate Entertainment World Ticket in Henqin Zhuhai :
$31
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2 Days Shanghai Private Tour:
$178
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2D1N Mount Emei Monastery Cultural Tour:
$51
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2D1N Mount Emei Tour from Chengdu:
$199
-
2D1N Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha Tour from Chengdu:
$216
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3 Day Essential Hangzhou Private Tour:
$297
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3 Day Guilin Highlights & Rice Terraces Private Tour:
$222
-
4 Day Guilin and Yangshuo Private Tour:
$348
-
All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple from Taiyuan:
$278
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All Inclusive Taiyuan Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes:
$328
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All Inclusive Taiyuan Private Day Tour to Jinci Temple and Pingyao Ancient Town:
$228
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All Inclusive Taiyuan Private Tour to Jinci Temple and Mengshan Buddha:
$168
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Lionsgate Entertainment World Ticket in Henqin Zhuhai :
$31
-
2 Days Shanghai Private Tour:
$178
-
2-Day Danxia Mountain & Nanhua Temple Private Tour From Shenzhen By Bullet Train:
$677
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2-Day Private Customized Harbin Tour from Shenzhen by Air:
$1,118
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2-Day Private Lijiang Highlights Tour from Shenzhen by Plane:
$848
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2D1N Mount Emei Monastery Cultural Tour:
$51
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2D1N Mount Emei Tour from Chengdu:
$199
-
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
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3 Day Private Silk Road Tour fromShenzhen:Highlights of Xi'an,Jiayuguan,Dunhuang:
$1,078
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3-Day Private Golden Triangle Tour: Shanghai, Beijing and Xi'an from Shenzhen:
$1,378
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 Taiyuan, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.68.
Typically, people visiting Shenzhen spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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.
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