Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen or Tianjin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Tianjin or Shenzhen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin or Shenzhen? 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 Shenzhen?
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.
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
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.
-
Tianjin Prices
China PricesShenzhen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $97Shenzhen $147
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $97, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $147. 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 Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $37Shenzhen $95
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $74Shenzhen $190
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Shenzhen
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin or Shenzhen? 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: Tianjin Hotel Prices and Shenzhen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tianjin $39Shenzhen $16
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 : $13
- Tianjin Railway Station Private Transfer to Cruise Port: $32
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port: $80
- Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $118
- Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
- Tianjin Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $55
- Tianjin Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
- Tianjin Port Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $192
- Tianjin Port Pick-up and Beijing Hotel Drip-off Transfer with Private Driver: $155
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer to City Hotels: $80
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $95
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotel in Beijing Downtown Private Transfer: $120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) Transfer to Shenzhen by Toyota Alphard: $220
- Seamless VIP Hong Kong Airport Transfer with Dining Stop: $220
- Private Transfer From Hong Kong to/from Macau: $215
- Private Transfer from Shekou Port to Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN): $191
- Hong Kong Disneyland: One-Day Ticket and Private Hotel Transfer: $182
- Private Transfer from Shekou Cruise Port to Guangzhou City Hotels: $173
- Private Transfer from Shekou Port to Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN): $173
- Luxury Private Airport Transfer: Hong Kong International Airport: $149
- Private Transfer: Airport HKG to Hong Kong by Luxury Van: $144
- HK Airport to Cruise Terminal Rounded-Trip Private Transfer by Lexus Luxury Car: $139
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Port - Round- Trip Private Transfer: $136
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou and Shenzhen City Area: $128
Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Shenzhen?
Prices for flights to both Shenzhen 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 dayTianjin $38Shenzhen $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Shenzhen Food Tour with Locals: $47
- Hong Kong: 7-Course Hong Kong Street & Restaurant Food Tour: $59
- Best Street Food Tour With a Local Guide in Hong Kong: $96
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District: $107
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $107
- Hong Kong Market Walking Tour & Chinese Cooking Class: $131
- Hong Kong Sightseeing Tour With Dinner Cruise From Shenzhen: $136
- Hong Kong Best Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $147
- Kowloon Street Food Tour Private & Personalized with a Local: $173
- Hong Kong Private & Personalized Street Food Tour with a Local: $173
- Kowloon Night Street Food Tour with a Local: Private & Customized: $199
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $239
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tianjin $11Shenzhen $18
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- 4-Hour Private Tianjin Walking Tour with Dim Sum: $168
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion Highlight Tour with Peking Duck Experience: $240
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $258
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
- From Beijing: Tianjin Highlights Day Tour by High-Speed Rail: $289
- Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265
- Mutianyu Great Wall Trip with English Speaking Driver from Tianjin Cruise Port: $261
- Private Beijing Custom Day Tour from Tianjin City by Bullet Train: $278
- Private Beijing Shopping Tour with Bullet Train Experience from Tianjin: $269
- Private Great Wall Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $248
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $102
- A Perfect Hong Kong Layover - 5h private tour: $300
- Afternoon Hiking Tour Sharp Island Geopark: $39
- Aqua Luna: Evening Cruise at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong: $44
- Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $53
- Best Seller: VIP Lantau Tai O Tour Priority Cable Car, Big Buddha: $93
- Between Capitalism & Communism: Hong Kong History Tip Based Tour: $2.61
- Big Bus Hong Kong Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour: $56
- Cheung Chau Island Tour: $105
- Congjiang and Zhaoxing Tour by Bullet Train with Pickup from Hong Kong: $284
- Custom private tour of Hong Kong Island - Half day: $228
- Custom private tour of Kowloon Peninsula - Half day: $178
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTianjin $12Shenzhen $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Shenzhen, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Tianjin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Shenzhen?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Shenzhen. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin and Shenzhen, 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.
When is the best time to visit Tianjin or Shenzhen?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Tianjin or Shenzhen in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tianjin and Shenzhen.
In July, Tianjin is generally cooler than Shenzhen. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 27°C (80°F), and Shenzhen fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shenzhen this time of the year. In Tianjin, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tianjin usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Shenzhen during summer. Tianjin gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Shenzhen receives 231 hours of full sun in the summer.
Shenzhen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tianjin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Shenzhen. Tianjin gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyTianjin 27°C (80°F)Shenzhen 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Shenzhen in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tianjin as well as Shenzhen.
Tianjin is much colder than Shenzhen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tianjin averages around 15°C (58°F) in October, and Shenzhen fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tianjin this time of the year. In the autumn, Tianjin often gets more sunshine than Shenzhen. Tianjin gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shenzhen receives 190 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. Tianjin usually gets less rain in October than Shenzhen. Tianjin gets 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTianjin 15°C (58°F)Shenzhen 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Shenzhen in the Winter?
Both Shenzhen and Tianjin are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
The weather in Tianjin can be very cold. In the winter, Tianjin is much colder than Shenzhen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tianjin in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Shenzhen averages at about 16°C (60°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tianjin. Tianjin usually receives more sunshine than Shenzhen during winter. Tianjin gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Shenzhen receives 140 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Shenzhen. Tianjin gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTianjin -3°C (27°F)Shenzhen 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Shenzhen in the Spring?
Both Shenzhen and Tianjin during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Tianjin is generally much colder than Shenzhen. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 14°C (58°F), and Shenzhen fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Tianjin. In the spring, Tianjin often gets more sunshine than Shenzhen. Tianjin gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shenzhen receives 95 hours of full sun.
Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tianjin usually gets less rain in April than Shenzhen. Tianjin gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilTianjin 14°C (58°F)Shenzhen 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Shenzhen and Tianjin
| Tianjin | Shenzhen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (31°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (58°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (31°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
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.