Which place is cheaper, Beijing or Tel Aviv?
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 Tel Aviv or Beijing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tel Aviv or Beijing, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Tel Aviv or Beijing?
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and is situated on the Mediterranean coast 60 kilometers north of Jerusalem. It's a rapidly growing city and is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Israel. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo because the city has grown to include the ancient port city of Yafo. If you're looking for an embassy, you are likely to find it in Tel Aviv, despite Jerusalem being the official capital of Israel.
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 Luxury Tours to Israel, The Best Budget Tours to Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Tel Aviv Prices
Israel PricesBeijing Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTel Aviv $192Beijing $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Tel Aviv is $192, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $97. 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 Tel Aviv and Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTel Aviv $104Beijing $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTel Aviv $208Beijing $86
Compare Hotels in Tel Aviv and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Tel Aviv 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: Tel Aviv Hotel Prices and Beijing Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tel Aviv $11Beijing $8.35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tel Aviv
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tel Aviv are as follows:
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Local Bus to Central Bus Station$1.90
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Taxi to Airport$48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tel Aviv
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tel Aviv:
- Comfortable Private Transfer: Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport: $180
- Herzliya to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport Private Departure Transfer: $56
- Jerusalem: Private Airport Transfer - Great Service !: $249
- Netanya: Private Airport Transfer - Great Service !: $183
- Private Airport Transfer - Dead Sea Hotels from or to Tel Aviv (TLV) Airport: $160
- Private Arrival Transfer: From Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv City Center: $48
- Private Ben Gurion Airport Transfer To/From TelAviv: $67
- Private Departure Transfer: From Tel Aviv City Center to Ben Gurion Airport: $48
- Private Round trip Airport Transfers - Airport to Tel Aviv Area and return: $210
- Private Transfer from Tel Aviv Int Airport (TLV) to Ashdod Port: $150
- Private Transfer: From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem: $107
- Private Transfer: Jerusalem Hotels ↔ Ben Gurion Airport: $210
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$5.10
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Train from Airport for Two$7.47
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Taxi to Hotel$8.97
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2 Metro Passes$2.39
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Metro$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- 1 Day Pass for Universal Beijing and Private Transfer Package: $230
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Private Tour: Forbidden City with Round Airport transfers: $198
- 1-Day Bejing Layover Tour:Mutianyu Great Wall,Forbidden City & Airport Transfers: $250
- Acrobatic Show at Red Theater With Private Transfer: $80
- Acrobatics Show with Private Driver Service and Hotel Round Transfer: $105
- Afternoon Bus Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall + Entry Ticket: $20
- Badaling Great Wall Ticket, Transfer & Guide Service: $10
- Badaling Night Great Wall Ticket Show and Optional Transfer: $45
- Beijing 2 Days Private Tour with Airport Transfer Options: $26
- Beijing Acrobatic Show in Red Theater with Guide and Transfer: $59
- Beijing Acrobatics Show And Peking Opera Tour With Transfer: $299
- Beijing Airport Transfer 24H Flight Tracking and English Driver: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Tel Aviv or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing and Tel Aviv 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 dayTel Aviv $58Beijing $36
Typical Food Prices in Tel Aviv
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tel Aviv:
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Dinner for Two$27
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Dinner for 2 at Vatroshka$157
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Lunch at Segev Sarona$41
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Aroma Iced Coffee$4.51
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Lunch at the airport$38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tel Aviv
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tel Aviv.
- Carmel Market Food Tour: $45
- Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market: $49
- Private Jaffa Flea Market Hapishpeshim Food Tour: $60
- Carmel Market Food Tour: $75
- Levinsky Market Food Tour: $145
- Food Tour of Sarona Market and Azraeli Center: $165
- Try Your Hand At Israeli Home Cooking: $176
- Christmas Eve Tour Jerusalem and Bethlehem Dinner from Tel Aviv: $180
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$0.90
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Hot Pot Dinner$7.47
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.99
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Watermelon$2.09
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$18
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Two Popsicles$0.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Gastronomic Gems of Beijing Shared Walking Food Tour: $20
- Beijing Market Tour and Cooking Class with an Executive Chef: $36
- Beijing Food Tour: $40
- Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $54
- Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Beijing Cultural Food Tour with Peking Duck and Copper pot Hotpot: $67
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $70
- Beijing Hidden Hutong Bike & Food Tour - Pro Photos Included: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tel Aviv $27Beijing $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tel Aviv
Here are a few typical costs in Tel Aviv for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Masada tour from Tel Aviv$95
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Etzel museum$4.83
Tours and Activities in Tel Aviv
Here are a few actual costs in Tel Aviv for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Trail of Independence Quest Experience: $6.78
- A Self-Guided Jaffa Tour: The Story of its American-German Colony: $7.99
- Jaffa Walking Tour: Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port, the Flea Market & More: $35
- Tel Aviv Street Art Tour (Graffiti): $35
- Jaffa Walking Tour: Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port & the Flea Market: $39
- Tel Aviv Carmel Market & City Walking Tour: $49
- Carmel Market & Tel Aviv Tour with Tastings: $49
- Jaffa Half-Day Walking Tour: $49
- Jerusalem Old City Morning Tour: $49
- Jaffa: Old City, Port & Shuk Hapishpishim Walking Tour: $50
- Jaffa Sunset Skyline Walking Tour: $50
- Carmel Market & Neighborhood Guided Walking Tour: $50
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$8.97
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Two Opera Tickets$64
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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:
- Temple of Heaven Ming and Qing Worship Experience: $1.63
- Entrance Tickets: Coal Hill Park, Beihai Park & Drum-Bell Towers: $2.50
- Jingshan Park QR Ticket with 4 Language Audio Guide: $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: $2.99
- Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Ticket Booking Service: $3.00
- Tian'amen Square & Forbidden City Tickets or Guided Group Tour: $3.00
- Jingshan Park Ticket - Panoramic Forbidden City View: $3.00
- Tiananmen Square Ticket Booking: $3.10
- Beijing:Tiananmen Square tickets with guide(optional): $3.19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTel Aviv $26Beijing $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Tel Aviv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tel Aviv:
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour with Shots: $27
- Guided Pub Crawl Night Tour at Tel Aviv: $29
- Tel Aviv Pub Crawl: $30
- Pub Crawl with 4 Stops and Free Shots: $32
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Tipsy Travel: Beijing Local Food and Bar Crawl night in Hutong: $138
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $199
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tel Aviv and Beijing, we can see that Tel Aviv is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tel Aviv is in Middle East 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 Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Tel Aviv would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tel Aviv than you might in Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tel Aviv Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tel Aviv or Beijing?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Tel Aviv. When comparing the sizes of Tel Aviv 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.