Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Tianjin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tianjin or Pingyao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin or Pingyao? 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 Pingyao?
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.
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
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 $78Pingyao $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $78, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $55. 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 Pingyao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $35Pingyao $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $70Pingyao $46
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Pingyao
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin or Pingyao? 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 $37Pingyao $13
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 Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $13
- Private Transfer Airport Transfer in Tianjin: $26
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Binhai Airport TSN to Tianjin Port: $33
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN): $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
- Tianjin Port Private transfers to Tianjin train station: $52
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port to Tianjin City Hotels: $53
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port to Tianjin hotels: $53
- Beijing: Private Roundtrip Transfer to Great Wall of China: $61
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing City Hotels: $62
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
- Privater Transfer from Datong to Pingyao with driver: $115
- Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Pingyao?
Prices for flights to both Pingyao 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 $21Pingyao $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tianjin
For Tianjin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Beijing: Private Family Dumpling Cooking Experience: $160
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.11
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Mango Juice$0.71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tianjin $11Pingyao $19
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
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- 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
- All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
- 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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.84
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.09
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.57
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $113
- 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress : $206
- 2-Hour Guided Private Bike Tour to see the Hidden Pingyao & Tea Break: $60
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Highlights: $125
- All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
- By bullet train from Beijing to Pingyao 2days tour &Lunch: $490
- Day tour to Wang Family Compound shuanglin temple &zhangbi castle: $210
- Half-Day Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $65
- Mian Mountain Private Day Tour From Pingyao: $188
- One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $129
- Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $132
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTianjin $11Pingyao $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Pingyao, we can see that Tianjin is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Pingyao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Pingyao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Pingyao?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin and Pingyao, 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.