Which place is cheaper, Chongqing or Zhangjiajie?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Zhangjiajie or Chongqing?
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 Chongqing. 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 Chongqing?
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.
Chongqing
Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Zhangjiajie Prices
China PricesChongqing Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangjiajie $83Chongqing $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $83, while the average daily cost in Chongqing is $111. 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 Chongqing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangjiajie $32Chongqing $53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangjiajie $64Chongqing $106
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Chongqing
Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie or Chongqing? 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.Zhangjiajie $15Chongqing $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Entrance Tickets to Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge with Private Car Transfer From Zhangjiajie city hotel (Round Trip ): $127
- 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 Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $321
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie to/from Fenghuang: $149
- Zhangjiajie Forest Park 4 Day Pass and All You Can Ride Transfers: $98
- Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
- Wulong 5-Day Tour with Hotel & Transfers: $687
- 5-Day Private Tour with Hotel & Transfers: $497
- Wulong 3-Day Tour with Hotel & Transfers: $497
- Chongqing Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $88
- Chongqing Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Chongqing Jiangbei Airport Chauffeur Service, Chongqing Airport Transfer, Pickup: $60
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG): $60
- Jiangbei International Airport Transfer 24h Services: $58
- Chongqing Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $55
- Private Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $49
- Private Departure Transfer from City Hotel to Chongqing Railway Station: $49
- Private Chongqing International Airport Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangjiajie or Chongqing?
Prices for flights to both Chongqing 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 $38Chongqing $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Zhangjiajie Night Scenic Tour+Dinner Feast or Relaxing Massage: $98
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.
- Qingyu Banquet Experience with Show and Dinner: $51
- Be a Chongqinger - wet market tour &cooking class & paper cutting: $59
- Half-Day Cultural Immersion with Cooking Class: $80
- Food Tour with Old Town and Magical Night Views: $93
- Chongqing Food Tour: $93
- Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner or Massage: $150
- Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $245
- From Port Transfer with Half Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $246
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangjiajie $24Chongqing $14
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Mini Group: 1-Day zhangjiajie Avatar Mt&Tianmen&Glass Bridge Tour: $5.00
- Avatar Mountains and Glass Bridge Zhangjiajie 2 Day Tour: $5.99
- Zhangjiajie 72 Odd Towers Ticket Booking: $9.00
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Tickets: $13
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Entrance Ticket: $16
- National Forest Park Entry Ticket and More: $19
- Zhangjiajie Baofeng Lake Ticket: $22
- Zhangjiajie Yellow Dragon Cave Tickets: $22
- Baofeng Lake Tickets: $23
- Zhangjiajie Private Helicopter Tour to Explore Real Avatar World: $26
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Ticket Booking: $34
- Double-Night Private Tour: Tianmen Mountain & 72 Odd Towers: $35
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Private Tour to UNESCO Dazu Rock Carvings from Chongqing: $166
- 1 Day Private tour to Chongqing Wulong National Geology Park: $179
- 1 Day Tour at Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Ancient Town: $248
- 3Days Chongqing Cyber City✖ Wulong Karst Cave Adventure: $750
- 4D3N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Chongqing to Yichang: $628
- All-In-One Chongqing Trendy Spots Private Tour: $230
- Authentic Chongqing Walking Tour: Explore History & Local Vibe: $98
- Century Cruises Chongqing to Yichang Yangzte River Tour: $61
- Chinese calligraphy experience: $42
- ChongQing Guanyinqiao: A 3-Hour Urban Adventure: $80
- Chongqing 10 Hour Private Customized City Car Tour: $161
- Chongqing 1949 Grand Theater Immersive Show Ticket: $43
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangjiajie $17Chongqing $7.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangjiajie and Chongqing, we can see that Chongqing is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Chongqing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chongqing 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 Chongqing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangjiajie or Chongqing?
Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Zhangjiajie and Chongqing, 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.
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.