Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Tiger Leaping Gorge?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tiger Leaping Gorge or Chengdu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Tiger Leaping Gorge and Chengdu. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Tiger Leaping Gorge or Chengdu?
Tiger Leaping Gorge
One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTiger Leaping Gorge $43Chengdu $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $43, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $52. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge and Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTiger Leaping Gorge $14Chengdu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTiger Leaping Gorge $28Chengdu $42
Compare Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Tiger Leaping Gorge or Chengdu? 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.Tiger Leaping Gorge $17Chengdu $6.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Leshan Giant buddha with Round Airport Transfer: $205
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Panda Base, city central with Round Airport Transfer: $240
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $40
- Arrival Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu City by Sedan: $52
- Arrival Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu by Luxury Sedan: $91
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 40 pax: $230
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport Chauffeur Service, Chengdu Airport Transfer, Pickup: $53
- Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport: Private Transfer to/from Chengdu: $38
- Chengdu panda ticket with one way private transfer: $70
- Chengdu to Chengdu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Tiger Leaping Gorge or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu and Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 dayTiger Leaping Gorge $16Chengdu $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Eat with Locals Chengdu Dinner Tour : $61
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $75
- Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes): $75
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $76
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda: $79
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $81
- Hot Pot Dinner Sichuan Opera and Local tea tasting: $89
- Half-Day Dandan Noodles Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $100
- Street Gems Guided Food Tour with Beer and Tastings: $106
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tiger Leaping Gorge $15Chengdu $16
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Agent ticket booking service: Online ticket booking in China: $10
- Sichuan Opera night show Jinjiang theater tickets: $13
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Half Day Tour(Private): $16
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $18
- Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan One-Day Private Tour: $18
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $18
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $19
- Panda Breeding Base Private Tour/Ticket Only Option: $20
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Ticket pre-booking: $20
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
- Panda Base Tour/Ticket Only Option: $22
- Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding e-Ticket: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTiger Leaping Gorge $6.54Chengdu $4.04
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tiger Leaping Gorge and Chengdu, we can see that Chengdu is more expensive. And not only is Tiger Leaping Gorge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tiger Leaping Gorge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 Chengdu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chengdu than you might in Tiger Leaping Gorge.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
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.