Which place is cheaper, Queenstown or Tianjin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tianjin or Queenstown?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin or Queenstown? 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 Queenstown?
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.
Queenstown
Queenstown is a popular tourist destination on New Zealand's South Island. It is beautifully surrounded by the Southern Alps and sits on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. Across the lake you will find a stunning view of the Remarkables, a dramatic mountain range. The town itself is quite touristy, but prices still remain reasonable. There are options for all travel budgets, whether you're a backpacker hoping to save a few dollars or a family looking for some luxury accommodation. Despite its natural and tranquil setting, Queenstown is actually very much a party town, particularly during the peak seasons. Don't be surprised to find people out enjoying themselves until the early hours of the morning. If you're not into the party scene and are hoping to get a decent night's sleep, consider staying a little outside of town. About an hour outside of Queenstown you'll find Wanaka, which is a much smaller and peaceful town without the party scene.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $76Queenstown $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $76, while the average daily cost in Queenstown is $104. 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 Queenstown in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $34Queenstown $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $68Queenstown $110
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Queenstown
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin or Queenstown? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Queenstown Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tianjin $36Queenstown $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $13
- Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $18
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Tianjin Railway Station to City Hotel: $30
- Private Departure Transfer: Bejing City Hotel to Airport: $32
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Port to Tianjin Binhai Airport TSN: $33
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Binhai Airport TSN to Tianjin Port: $33
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Binhai Airport to Tianjin Port: $36
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
- Tianjin Airport (TSN) to Tianjin RoundTrip Private Transfer: $50
- Tianjin Port Private transfers to Tianjin train station: $50
- Private Transfer from Tianjin City Hotels to Tianjin Cruise Port: $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queenstown
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queenstown:
- Tasman Glacier Helihike with Flight Transfers: $890
- Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer: $736
- Private Transfer from Queenstown Central to Wanaka: $178
- Private Transfer from Wanaka to Queenstown Airport: $178
- Private Transfer from Wanaka to Queenstown Central: $178
- Private Transfer from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Port: $166
- Private Transfer from Queenstown to Milford Sound Cruise Port: $166
- From Mount Cook Transfer w/ Guided Landmark Tour: $104
- Queenstown Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Queenstown: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Queenstown?
Prices for flights to both Queenstown 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 $20Queenstown $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Queenstown
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Queenstown.
- Bar Crawl with 5 Free Shots and Pizza: $18
- Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown: $114
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tianjin $10Queenstown $21
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Queenstown
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Queenstown are as follows:
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Skyline Gondola (for 2)$30
Tours and Activities in Queenstown
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Queenstown are as follows:
- 5-Hour Wine and Food Sampler Tour from Queenstown: $136
- Arrowtown and Wanaka Highlights Tour from Queenstown: $126
- Boutique Winery Half-Day Tour & Vineyard Platter-Style Lunch: $142
- Challenger Self Drive Guided Buggy Tour from Queenstown: $290
- Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown: $265
- Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience: $185
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown: $259
- E-Bike Adventures Through the Wineries in Gibbston: $100
- E-Bike Rental for Lake Dunstan Trail Experience : $112
- Escape Adventure AR Experience in Queenstown: $24
- Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown: $180
- From Queenstown/Glenorchy: Dart River Jet Boat Tour: $178
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTianjin $11Queenstown $8.90
Sample the Local Flavors in Queenstown
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Queenstown:
- Ice Bar Crawl: $24
- Queenstown & Gibbston Valley: Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tours: $53
- Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Bannockburn - departing Queenstown: $60
- Afternoon brewery tour with lunch: $110
- Afternoon Wine Tasting Tour with 3 Wineries: $110
- Original Wine Tour: $112
- Classic Wine Tour: $118
- Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Vineyards, Caves and Cheeseboard: $120
- Wine Tasting Tour: $130
- Afternoon Boutique Wine Tour: $132
- The Ultimate Luxury Hop on Hop off Wine Tour: $138
- Central Otago Wine Tour from Queenstown Including Lunch: $144
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Queenstown, we can see that Queenstown 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 Queenstown 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 Queenstown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Queenstown 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 Queenstown Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Queenstown?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 360 times larger than the population of Queenstown. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin and Queenstown, 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.