A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tianjin vs. Arrowtown for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tianjin or Arrowtown?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Tianjin or Arrowtown? 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: Tianjin or Arrowtown?

Tianjin

Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.

Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.

Arrowtown

Historically, Arrowtown is an old gold mining town that is located on the South Island of New Zealand. The town was established during the Otago gold rush of 1862. It is very close to Queenstown, which is a very popular destination among travelers, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is a very tiny town, with a population of just over 2,000 people. The town has a lot of character and history and is a perfect place to go if you wish to get out of the touristy areas like Queenstown.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Arrowtown or Tianjin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $76, while the average daily cost in Arrowtown is $114. 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 Tianjin and Arrowtown in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tianjin $34
    Arrowtown $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tianjin $68
    Arrowtown $134
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Arrowtown

Looking for a hotel in Tianjin or Arrowtown? 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.

Hotels in Tianjin


Hotels in Arrowtown


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: Arrowtown Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tianjin $36
    Arrowtown $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin

Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • [Airport Transfer] Tianjin Airport ⇔ Tianjin City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service <Charter charter>: $13
  • Tianjin Railway Station Private Transfer to Cruise Port: $32
  • Tianjin Private Transfer to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall: $196
  • Tianjin Private Transfer from Tianjin central to Tianjin Binhai Airport (TSN): $116
  • Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port: $80
  • Tianjin Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Railway Station: $80
  • Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $112
  • Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
  • Tianjin Port Private transfers to Tianjin train station: $50
  • Tianjin Port Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $192
  • Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer from City Hotels: $80
  • Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $66

Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Arrowtown?

Prices for flights to both Arrowtown and Tianjin 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tianjin $20
    Arrowtown $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tianjin $10
    Arrowtown $15

Tours and Activities in Tianjin

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.

  • 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
  • 4-Hour Private Tianjin Walking Tour with Dim Sum: $168
  • 4-Hour Shore Excursion: Tianjin City Highlights and Binhai Bullet Train Experience: $259
  • 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion Highlight Tour with Peking Duck Experience: $240
  • 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Porcelain House with Bullet Train Experience: $240
  • 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
  • All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
  • All-inclusive Tianjin Day Tour to Qing Emperor's Tomb & Huangyaguan Great Wall : $278
  • Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
  • Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
  • From Tianjin Xingang Port: Private 2-Day Beijing Tour: $550
  • Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265

Tours and Activities in Arrowtown

For Arrowtown, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Queenstown: Arrowtown Mountain Biking Adventure: $53

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tianjin $11
    Arrowtown $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Arrowtown

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arrowtown:

  • From Scenic Valley of the Vines Bike & Wine Tour: $89


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Arrowtown, we can see that Arrowtown is more expensive. And not only is Tianjin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tianjin is in Asia and Arrowtown is in Pacific, 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 Tianjin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tianjin 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 Arrowtown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arrowtown than you might in Tianjin.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Arrowtown Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Arrowtown?

Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 1750 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin and Arrowtown, 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.