A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yangshuo vs. Hong Kong for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Yangshuo or Hong Kong?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Yangshuo and Hong Kong can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Yangshuo or Hong Kong?

Yangshuo

A county of the city, Guilin, Yangshuo is located in a region famous for its karst topography. Surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River, Yangshuo has become a popular home base for tourists looking to explore the region's natural wonders. Backpackers and tourists, both foreign and domestic, come to Yangshuo every year making it a city of many cultures. Most locals are even able to speak English, which is fairly uncommon for Chinese cities.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong you will find a predominantly Cantonese population that has long been influenced by British occupation. Most residents speak English and you can see the obvious effects of years of capitalism. Shopping malls are everywhere and most are thriving. Along the waterfront every night the buildings light up in a dramatic and festive light show that highlights such businesses as Sony and Canon, which are fixtures in the city. The city is a major financial hub, and is very international in nature. The city itself is very densely packed and there are narrow high rises that look vulnerable due to their height. There are two main areas to the city, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Hong Kong Island is the location of the original British settlement. Today it is where you will find the highest skyscrapers, the most modern buildings, and the most popular shopping areas. Kowloon is located on a peninsula that is to the north of Hong Kong Island. The tip of the peninsula is a popular destination for backpackers as it has many of the city's hostels. This area is referred to as Tsim Sha Tsui. There are also a few high end hotels in the area. It is possible to head outside of the city so that you can escape into some rural regions where you can take a break from the crowds.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to China, and The Best Tours for Seniors to China.


Which place is cheaper, Hong Kong or Yangshuo?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Yangshuo is $72, while the average daily cost in Hong Kong is $158. 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 Yangshuo and Hong Kong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yangshuo $25
    Hong Kong $75
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yangshuo $50
    Hong Kong $150
Compare Hotels in Yangshuo and Hong Kong

Looking for a hotel in Yangshuo or Hong Kong? 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 Yangshuo


Hotels in Hong Kong


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: Hong Kong Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yangshuo $42
    Hong Kong $8.70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangshuo

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

  • Private Yangshuo Transfer from Hotel to Longji terraces Hotel: $96
  • Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Xingping hotel: $21
  • Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Longsheng hotel: $85
  • Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Guilin hotel: $37
  • Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $21
  • Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Longsheng hotel: $107
  • Private Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Show with Hotel Transfer: $88
  • Private Departure Transfer: Yangshuo to Guilin Train Stations: $49
  • Impression Liu Sanjie - Ticket Booking (including Round-trip Transfer): $75
  • Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Between Airport & Yangshuo: $106

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hong Kong

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hong Kong:


  • MTR (for 2)
    $2.81
  • Local Bus
    $2.81
  • Ferry Ticket
    $0.26
  • Hong Kong Airport Express Train Ticket
    $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Yangshuo or Hong Kong?

Prices for flights to both Hong Kong and Yangshuo 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
    Yangshuo $19
    Hong Kong $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangshuo

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

  • 3-Hour Yangshuo Cooking Class with Yangshuo Town Shopping: $138
  • Yangshuo Full Day Tour: Cooking class, River boat, Light Show: $259

Typical Food Prices in Hong Kong

For Hong Kong, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner for 2
    $11

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yangshuo $23
    Hong Kong $95

Tours and Activities in Yangshuo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Yangshuo.

  • Yangshuo Helicopter Tour from Yangshuo hotel: $149
  • 1 Day - Yangshuo Bike Tour: $80
  • 1-Day Guilin City Tour and Ends of Longji Rice Terraces from Yangshuo: $218
  • 1-Day Guilin City Tour with the Daxu Town and Yao Mountain from Yangshuo: $187
  • 1-Day Longji Rice Terraces hiking tour from Guilin/Yangshuo hotel: $188
  • 2 Day - Longji Rice Terraces - Sunrise Hiking Tour: $280
  • All Inclusive Private Hiking Tour in Yangshuo: $84
  • Full-day Tour: Longji Rice Terraces & Minority Villages: $146
  • Full/Half-Day Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Private Tour: $136
  • Guilin Highlight Sightseeing Private Day City Tour: $139
  • Guilin Tea plantation and Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour from Xingping hotel: $181
  • Guilin Yangshuo Day tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Bullet Train: $212

Typical Entertainment Prices in Hong Kong

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Hong Kong's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Peak Tram
    $7.66
  • Madame Tussauds Hong Kong
    $24

Tours and Activities in Hong Kong

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

  • Ma On Shan Climbing Adventure: $115
  • Plover Cove Bicycling and Hiking Adventure: $110

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yangshuo $33
    Hong Kong $21


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

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


Which is Bigger, Yangshuo or Hong Kong?

Hong Kong has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Yangshuo. When comparing the sizes of Yangshuo and Hong Kong, 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.