Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Tianjin?
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 Tianjin or Chengdu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin or Chengdu? 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 Chengdu?
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.
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.
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Tianjin Prices
China PricesChengdu Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $97Chengdu $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $97, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $71. 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 Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $37Chengdu $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $74Chengdu $44
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin or Chengdu? 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.Tianjin $39Chengdu $6.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer from Tianjin Airport TSN to Tianjin City: $60
- Beijing Downtown to Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer drop off: $105
- Binhai Airport Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port: $80
- Binhai Airport Private Transfer to Tianjin Cruise Port: $80
- Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Hotels: $225
- Cruise Transfer:Tianjin International Home Port to Beijing PEK or Daxing Airport: $118
- Departure Transfer from Tianjin City to Tianjin Airport TSN: $60
- Port Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Home Port to Beijing Hotels: $100
- Private 1-Way Transfer Between Tianjin Port to Beijing: $138
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Port to Train Stations (Tianjin/Tanggu): $63
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN): $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Chengdu 3-Day Self-Guided Jiuzhaigou&Huanglong with Transfer: $412
- Algou Valley Hiking Tour with Roundtrip Transfer: $289
- Chengdu Panda & Giant Buddha Day Tour With Private Transfer: $240
- Downtown to Mountain Emei round way transfer for one day service: $189
- Leshan Buddha Optional Tours w/ Transfer or Guide: $156
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Chengdu Tianfu Airport Private Transfer: $119
- Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City: $113
- Private Chengdu Tianfu Airport Transfer with English Support: $89
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $58
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport: $52
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu 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
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Food Meals for one dayTianjin $38Chengdu $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Chengdu Night: VIP Seat Opera Show or Back Alley Food Tour: $40
- Chengdu Food Tour Local Delicacies and Ear Cleaning: $59
- Chengdu Hidden Street Food Tour Spice Trails: $60
- Eat Like a Local! Food Tour in the Hidden Alleys: $67
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu Local Eats: $68
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals: $69
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $73
- Evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $79
- Chengdu Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit: $80
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $80
- Eat with Locals Chengdu Dinner Tour: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tianjin $11Chengdu $17
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Guided Day Tour to Tianjin Downtown with Lunch: $148
- Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $169
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Capital Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $187
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Daxing Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $203
- Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $215
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion Private Shopping Tour: $228
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- Private Tianjin Day Tour to Huangyaguan Great Wall and Dule Temple: $238
- Tianjin Shore Excursion: Huangyaguan Great Wall Private Day Tour: $238
- Tian jin harbor cruise to Beijng all-inclusive day trip: $239
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Panda Breeding Center Plus Chengdu City Tour: $175
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour with the Lunch: $246
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda Research Base and Sanxingdui Archeological Museum Tour: $256
- 1-Day Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour with the Lunch from Chengdu: $229
- 1-Day Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi old town Private Tour from Chengdu: $236
- 1-Day Panda Base and Huanglongxi old town Private Tour from Chengdu: $234
- 1-Day Private tour:Dazu Rock Carvings and Ciqikou Ancient Village from Chongqing: $285
- 1-Day Self-Guided Dujiangyan Tour: Panda Volunteer Program and Mount Qingcheng: $150
- 1-Day Self-Guided Leshan Giant Buddha Tour from Chengdu: $154
- 1-day Tour of Chengdu Panda and Sanxingdui Museum: $286
- 2 Days Chengdu Panda Base, Leshan Giant Buddha and Mt.Emei Group Tour: $188
- 2-Day Chengdu & Mount Qingcheng Heritage Tour: $511
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTianjin $12Chengdu $4.21
Sample the Local Flavors in Chengdu
Also in Chengdu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chengdu Pub Crawl: $10
- Tipsy Travel: Chengdu Evening Food and Bar Crawl with Local Guide: $138
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Chengdu, we can see that Tianjin is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chengdu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chengdu 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 Tianjin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tianjin than you might in Chengdu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Chengdu?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 5% larger than the population of Tianjin. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin and Chengdu, 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.