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

Should you visit Tianjin or Lake Tekapo?

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

Should I visit Tianjin or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo?

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.

Lake Tekapo

Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.

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


Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo is $75. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tianjin $34
    Lake Tekapo $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tianjin $68
    Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Lake Tekapo

Looking for a hotel in Tianjin or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo


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: Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tianjin $36
    Lake Tekapo -

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: $68
  • Binhai Airport Private Transfer to Tianjin Cruise Port: $80
  • Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Airport: $280
  • Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Hotels : $225
  • Cruise Transfer:Tianjin International Home Port to Beijing PEK or Daxing Airport: $118
  • One Way Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing with Guide: $216
  • 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 Arrival Transfer:Any Tianjin Railway Station to City Hotel: $30
  • Private Departure Transfer: Bejing City Hotel to Airport: $32

Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Lake Tekapo?

Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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
    Lake Tekapo $13

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tianjin $10
    Lake Tekapo -

Tours and Activities in Tianjin

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

  • Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $151
  • Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Hotel With the English Speaking Driver: $160
  • 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
  • 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
  • Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
  • 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
  • Tianjin Private Tour to Eastern Qing Tombs with Flexible Departure time: $237
  • Private Tianjin Day Tour to Huangyaguan Great Wall and Dule Temple: $238
  • Tianjin Shore Excursion: Huangyaguan Great Wall Private Day Tour: $238
  • Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239

Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo

Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Lake Tekapo Tour Scenic 4WD Mountains & Glaciers: $181
  • 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $43
  • Arthur's Pass and Mount Cook: 2-Day Tour From Christchurch: $1,455
  • Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $60
  • Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $85
  • Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $31
  • From Tekapo: Mt Cook day tour via Pukaki, Tasman Glacier: $100
  • High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $59
  • Lake Tekapo Fishing Tour: $178
  • Lake Tekapo Guided 4WD Tours: $178
  • Lake Tekapo Scenic 4WD Cass Valley Wilderness Tour: $178
  • Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tianjin $11
    Lake Tekapo -


When comparing the travel costs between Tianjin and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Tianjin 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. Even though Tianjin is in Asia and Lake Tekapo is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Lake Tekapo?

Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 11410 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin and Lake Tekapo, 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.

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