Which place is cheaper, Chongqing or Tianjin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tianjin or Chongqing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin or Chongqing? 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 Chongqing?
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.
Chongqing
Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $76Chongqing $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $76, while the average daily cost in Chongqing is $86. 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 Chongqing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $34Chongqing $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $68Chongqing $98
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Chongqing
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin or Chongqing? 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 $37Chongqing $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beijing: Private Roundtrip Transfer to Great Wall of China: $66
- Binhai Airport Private Transfer to Tianjin Cruise Port: $80
- Cruise Transfer:Tianjin International Home Port to Beijing PEK or Daxing Airport: $106
- 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 Departure Transfer: Bejing City Hotel to Airport: $32
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Tianjin Railway Station: $28
- Private PEK Airport Departure Transfer from Tianjin with Bullet Train Experience: $168
- Private Tianjin Airport Arrival Transfer to Beijing Hotels: $98
- Private Tianjin Port Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $178
- Private Tianjin Transfer to Xingang International Cruise Port from City Hotels: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
- Dazu Rock Carvings Private Transfer or Tour: $278
- Chongqing Private Round Trip Transfer to Dazu Rock Carvings: $128
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) : $50
- Private Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $43
- Private Transfer from Chongqing hotel to Chongqing Train Station : $27
- Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) private round-trip transfer: $24
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chongqing Railway Station to Hotel: $24
- [Airport Transfer] Chongqing Airport ⇔ Chongqing City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $23
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Hotel: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Chongqing?
Prices for flights to both Chongqing 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 $20Chongqing $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.
- Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner: $115
- Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner: $158
- Private Chongqing night tour with dinner hot pot: $170
- Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $193
- Private Chongqing Night View Tour with Hot Pot or Local Dinner: $199
- Chongqing Night view private tour with hot-pot dinner: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tianjin $10Chongqing $13
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion Private Shopping Tour: $120
- Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $151
- Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $156
- 4-Hour Private Tianjin Walking Tour with Dim Sum: $168
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- Tianjin Port-up To Beijing City Self-Guide Tour and Drop-off at Beijing Hotel: $192
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Daxing Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $203
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- Private Tianjin Day Tour to Huangyaguan Great Wall and Dule Temple: $238
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch: $143
- 3-Hour Walking Tour of Chongqing Shancheng (Mountain City) Lane: $65
- All-In-One Chongqing Trendy Spots Private Tour: $220
- Chongqing All-in-One Private Tour With Entire City Night View: $250
- Chongqing City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $196
- Chongqing Half Day Morning Private Tour including Eling Park & Chongqing Museum: $135
- Chongqing Private City Tour Extention: $220
- Chongqing Private Day Tour Of Meet popular Chongqing: $160
- Chongqing Wulong Exploration Private Day Tour With the Lunch: $185
- Chongqing Wulong National Park Private Tour : $280
- Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise and Illuminated Night Tour: $158
- City Highlights Guided Private Tour with Lunch: $208
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTianjin $11Chongqing $6.91
When comparing the travel costs between Tianjin and Chongqing, we can see that Chongqing is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Chongqing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Chongqing?
Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 5% larger than the population of Tianjin. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin and Chongqing, 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.