A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yichang vs. Airlie Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Yichang or Airlie Beach?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yichang or Airlie Beach, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Yichang or Airlie Beach?

Yichang

Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.

Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Yichang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Yichang is $74, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $165. 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 Yichang and Airlie Beach in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yichang $25
    Airlie Beach $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yichang $50
    Airlie Beach $118
Compare Hotels in Yichang and Airlie Beach

Looking for a hotel in Yichang or Airlie Beach? 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 Yichang


Hotels in Airlie Beach


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: Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yichang $14
    Airlie Beach $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yichang

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Yichang:

  • Yichang Airport Transfer Service, Yichang train station Pick up: $20
  • Private transfer from Yichang to Zhangjiajie: $290

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:

  • Whitsundays: Airport Transfer to/from Airlie Beach: $16
  • One Way Airport Transfer: Proserpine-Airlie Beach (or vice versa): $17
  • Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $17
  • Established Return Airport Transfer Proserpine to Airlie Beach: $28
  • Airport Transfer to Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
  • Private Transfer to/from Shute Harbour: $134
  • Private Transfer to/from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $148

Is it cheaper to fly into Yichang or Airlie Beach?

Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Yichang 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
    Yichang $38
    Airlie Beach $55

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach

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

  • 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $82
  • Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yichang $18
    Airlie Beach $161

Tours and Activities in Yichang

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yichang are as follows:

  • Yichang Tourist Center to Yichang Sanxia Airport (YIH): $53
  • Private Day Tour in Yichang to Sanyou Cave and Sanxia Waterfall : $239
  • From 5-Day Yangtze River Cruise to Chongqing: $679
  • Yichang - Chongqing Yangtze Miracle Luxury 5D4N Cruise: $720
  • From Yichang to Chongqing: 5-Day Cruise with Meals: $993

Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:

  • Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours: $20
  • 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
  • Roundtrip Tour to Cedar Creek.: $45
  • Sundowner Sunset Cruise Airlie Beach: $46
  • Whisper Cruises - One-Hour Turtle Spotting Bay Cruise: $46
  • Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
  • Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
  • Whitsundays Sunset Sailing Cruise: $57
  • Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $59
  • Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
  • #1 Sightseeing Explorer 3hr tour.: $62
  • Half Day Turtle Tour Sea Kayaking Adventure: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yichang $14
    Airlie Beach $9.06


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

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



When is the best time to visit Yichang or Airlie Beach?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Airlie Beach is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Yichang has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Yichang or Airlie Beach in the Summer?

Both Airlie Beach and Yichang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Yichang is a little warmer than Airlie Beach in the summer. The daily temperature in Yichang averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Yichang. Yichang usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during summer. Yichang gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. It's quite rainy in Yichang. In July, Yichang usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin January. Yichang gets 229 mm (9 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Yichang 29°C (85°F) 
    Airlie Beach 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Yichang or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?

Both Airlie Beach and Yichang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Yichang is cooler than Airlie Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Yichang in October average around 20°C (67°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.

In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Yichang often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin April. Yichang gets 134 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun.

Airlie Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Yichang usually gets less rain in October than Airlie Beachin April. Yichang gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Yichang 20°C (67°F) 
    Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Yichang or Airlie Beach in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Yichang and Airlie Beach. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Airlie Beach because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, Yichang is generally much colder than Airlie Beachin July. Daily temperatures in Yichang average around 6°C (43°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. Yichang usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during winter. Yichang gets 92 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Yichang usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin July. Yichang gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Yichang 6°C (43°F) 
    Airlie Beach 16°C (62°F)

Should I visit Yichang or Airlie Beach in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Yichang as well as Airlie Beach. Additionally, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.

Yichang is cooler than Airlie Beach in the spring. The daily temperature in Yichang averages around 18°C (65°F) in April, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. In the spring, Yichang often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin October. Yichang gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun.

Yichang usually gets more rain in April than Airlie Beachin October. Yichang gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Yichang 18°C (65°F) 
    Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)

Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Yichang

Yichang Airlie Beach
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 6°C (43°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 26°C (79°F) 331 mm (13 in)
Feb 8°C (46°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 26°C (78°F) 377 mm (14.8 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 312 mm (12.3 in)
Apr 18°C (65°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 23°C (73°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
May 23°C (73°F) 124 mm (4.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Jun 27°C (80°F) 151 mm (5.9 in) 17°C (63°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Jul 29°C (85°F) 229 mm (9 in) 16°C (62°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 29°C (85°F) 197 mm (7.8 in) 18°C (65°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Sep 25°C (76°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 20°C (68°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Oct 20°C (67°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Nov 14°C (57°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 25°C (77°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Dec 8°C (47°F) 22 mm (0.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 191 mm (7.5 in)