A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ubud vs. Shenzhen for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ubud or Shenzhen?

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 Ubud and Shenzhen. 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: Ubud or Shenzhen?

Ubud

Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.

Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.

Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.

Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen or Ubud?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ubud is $150, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $123. 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 Ubud and Shenzhen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ubud $133
    Shenzhen $89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ubud $266
    Shenzhen $178
Compare Hotels in Ubud and Shenzhen

Looking for a hotel in Ubud 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.

Hotels in Ubud


Hotels in Shenzhen


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: Ubud Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ubud $1.82
    Shenzhen $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:

  • Whitewater Rafting Ayung River with Return Transfer In Ubud Bali: $55
  • White Water Rafting Ubud Bali With Hotel Transfer: $24
  • White Water Rafting Adventure with Lunch and Return Transfer Including: $36
  • Waterbom Bali Tickets with Private Transfers: $70
  • Waterbom Bali Day Pass With Hotel Transfer: $55
  • Warm Stone Massage For 2 hours Including Transfers: $70
  • Vip Airport Transfer : $32
  • Quad Bike ATV Guided Tour with Transfer: $38
  • 1 Hour Beach Horse Riding with Transfer: $61
  • Ubud to Bali (DPS) Airport Private Transfer: $20
  • Ubud Transfers: Best Ubud Ground Transport: $35
  • Ubud Transfer Service: $32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen

Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • A Premium Airport Transfer Service, Meet us at the Arrival Hall!: $131
  • Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Shenzhen Transfer: $71
  • Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
  • Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $118
  • Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - Arrival Private Transfer : $45
  • Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Port - Round- Trip Private Transfer : $90
  • Hong Kong Airport HKG to Hong Kong Arrival Private Transfer: $58
  • Hong Kong Airport Transfer: $177
  • Hong Kong Disneyland: 1-Day Entry Ticket with Private Transfer: $162
  • Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) Private Transfer: $30
  • Hong Kong Private Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Terminal to Airport: $62
  • Hong Kong Private Transfer from Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport to Hong Kong: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Ubud or Shenzhen?

Prices for flights to both Shenzhen and Ubud 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
    Ubud $12
    Shenzhen $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.

  • Canggu: Drag Show with Dinner: $10
  • Jimbaran Bay Sunset Dinner with Discount Voucher and Return Transport : $12
  • Munduk authentic cooking class & banyumala waterfall: $19
  • Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
  • Balinese Traditional Cooking Classes with Market Tour: $22
  • Balinese Traditional Cooking Class with Market Tour: $22
  • Ubud Cooking : All Inclusive Cooking Class: $23
  • Balinese Cooking Class and Market Tour with Transfers: $23
  • Cooking Class with Transfers and Optional Market Visit: $23
  • Balinese Cooking Class with Hotel Transfers: $26
  • Best of Ubud with Cooking Class Experience: $26
  • Jimbaran Beach Candle Light Dinner : $26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Vegetarian Food Tour: $77
  • Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $90
  • Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District: $108
  • Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $108
  • Secret Food Tour With the Locals in Tin Hau Hong Kong w/ Private Tour Option: $109
  • Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $112
  • Hong Kong Food Tour with a Local: A Feast for Foodies 100% Personalized: $160
  • Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private: $160
  • The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $161

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ubud $10
    Shenzhen $17

Tours and Activities in Ubud

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

  • 1 DAY Valley Trekking at Hidden Canyon Bejiguwang + Sightseeing/Private Tour 8 Hours/English/Japanese Driver Included: $37
  • All Inclusive Tour in Nusa Lembongan Islands : $145
  • BALI INSTAGRAM TOUR Private Tour with Wifi onboard: $87
  • Bali : Best Private Day Tour with Private Driver : $26
  • Bali : Customized Tour Sekumpul Waterfalls & Handara gate Heaven: $36
  • Bali : Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep 4WD Experience: $38
  • Bali PrivateTanahlot Sunset Tour: $110
  • Bali Royal palaces (observe tour): $88
  • Barong Dance and Waterfall tour in Bali: $35
  • Best Ubud Tours -All inclusive with private driver: $35
  • Best of Ubud Tours with Jungle Swing ( All Inclusive ): $83
  • Gate Of Heaven Lempuyang Temple Tours with Blue Lagoon Snorkeling: $35

Tours and Activities in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Skip the Line! Walk to the Peak: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
  • Victoria Peak: Climb to the summit via the Mid-Levels escalato on an audio tour: $5.40
  • Yau Ma Tei: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in the Heart of Kowloon: $5.40
  • Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Hong Kong Airport Express E-Ticket : $14
  • Hong Kong Airport Express Train Tickets(Avoid Heavy Traffic): $15
  • Lovely Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
  • [Entry After 6pm] sky100 Min. 2pax Ticket Offer (F-II_2P): $17
  • Walking Tour in Hong Kong - Local Experience (New & Best) : $17
  • TramOramic Sightseeing Tour plus 2-Day Tramways Ticket: $23
  • sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck Tickets: $23
  • Dukling Boat Tour in Victoria Harbour: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ubud $6.88
    Shenzhen $19


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ubud and Shenzhen, we can see that Ubud is more expensive. And not only is Shenzhen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Shenzhen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shenzhen 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud than you might in Shenzhen.

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


Which is Bigger, Ubud or Shenzhen?

Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Ubud 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.