Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Zhangjiajie?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zhangjiajie or Airlie Beach?
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 Zhangjiajie and Airlie Beach. 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: Zhangjiajie or Airlie Beach?
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangjiajie $63Airlie Beach $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $63, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $141. 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 Zhangjiajie and Airlie Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangjiajie $30Airlie Beach $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangjiajie $60Airlie Beach $116
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Airlie Beach
Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie 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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zhangjiajie $14Airlie Beach $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Private Transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport: $314
- Crayfish Beach Hook Island Camping Transfer: $139
- Whitehaven Beach Club Transfers from Airlie Beach: $92
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $59
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $47
- Return Transfer PPP Airport Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
- Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service: $28
- One Way Only - Airport Transfer share shuttle service: $17
- Whitsunday: Prosperpine Airport to Airlie Beach Transfer: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangjiajie or Airlie Beach?
Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Zhangjiajie 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 dayZhangjiajie $20Airlie Beach $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
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: $72
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangjiajie $23Airlie Beach $160
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
- Tianmen Mountain day tour: $96
- Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $115
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $122
- 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
- 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
- Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain Glass Bridge day tour: $150
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain and Glass Skywalk Tour: $154
- Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Private All-inclusive Day Tour: $155
- Glass Bridge,Zhangjiajie park Avatar Mountain day tour: $160
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- 1 hour Mimosa Morning Turtle Spotting Cruise: $59
- 1-Day Whitsunday Islands Cruise: Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet: $140
- 2 Hour Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise: $59
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- Airlie Beach Jet Ski Tour: $105
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
- Airlie Beach sightseeing Tour: $50
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
- Adults-Only Whitehaven Beach Sailing Tour: $182
- Airlie Adventure Jet Ski Tour: $163
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangjiajie $16Airlie Beach $8.99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangjiajie and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zhangjiajie Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Airlie Beach in the Summer?
Both Airlie Beach and Zhangjiajie during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.
In July, Zhangjiajie is generally a little warmer than Airlie Beachin January. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 29°C (85°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Airlie Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. Zhangjiajie usually gets less rain in July than Airlie Beachin January. Zhangjiajie gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryZhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)Airlie Beach 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zhangjiajie and Airlie Beach. Furthermore, many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Zhangjiajie is cooler than Airlie Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in April.
Airlie Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zhangjiajie usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin April. Zhangjiajie gets 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilZhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Airlie Beach in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zhangjiajie as well as Airlie Beach. Additionally, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In the winter, Zhangjiajie is much colder than Airlie Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zhangjiajie in January average around 5°C (42°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 16°C (62°F)in July.
Zhangjiajie usually gets more rain in January than Airlie Beachin July. Zhangjiajie gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyZhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)Airlie Beach 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Airlie Beach in the Spring?
Both Airlie Beach and Zhangjiajie are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Zhangjiajie is generally cooler than Airlie Beachin October. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 17°C (63°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. In April, Zhangjiajie usually receives more rain than Airlie Beachin October. Zhangjiajie gets 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberZhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Zhangjiajie
| Zhangjiajie | Airlie Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.