Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Zhangye?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zhangye or Chengdu?
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 Zhangye and Chengdu. 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: Zhangye or Chengdu?
Zhangye
Zhangye, China is a city in the Gansu Province in the central north part of the country, close to Mongolia. This ancient city has often been used as a military strong hold, having been the headquarters of General Huo among many others. Zhangye is a fabulous day trip city to visit when staying in larger nearby cities.
Zhangye is privy to beautiful summer weather, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70's Fahrenheit. The best times to visit are between July and September, when temperatures and sunshine are at their highest. Autumn, Winter, and Spring tend to be a little chillier and rainier.
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangye $87Chengdu $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangye is $87, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $52. 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 Zhangye and Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangye $39Chengdu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangye $78Chengdu $42
Compare Hotels in Zhangye and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Zhangye or Chengdu? 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.Zhangye $39Chengdu $6.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangye
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhangye:
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Airport (YZY) to Zhangye Hotel: $59
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Hotel to Zhangye Airport (YZY): $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Chengdu City to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $19
- Chengdu to Chengdu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- [Airport Transfer] Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Kosheng City Transfer High reputation for service! : $22
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu International Airport (CTU) to Hotel: $23
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU): $23
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu : $28
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU): $34
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU) to Hotel: $34
- Downtown to Sichuan Opera round way transfer: $39
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $40
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangye or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu and Zhangye 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 dayZhangye $26Chengdu $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Sichuan Opera Face-Changing Show And Hotpot Dinner Evening Tour: $40
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals : $55
- Eat with Locals Chengdu Dinner Tour : $61
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half Day Chengdu Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking: $72
- Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes): $75
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $75
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $76
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda: $79
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangye $11Chengdu $16
Tours and Activities in Zhangye
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zhangye are as follows:
- Zhangye One Day City Tour: $77
- Private day tour to Zhangye Danxia Landform the Rainbow Mountain: $150
- Private day tour to Zhangye Mati temple & Giant Buddha Temple start from Zhangye: $155
- Zhangye Danxia Half Day tour: $195
- Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Private Day Tour: $214
- Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes: $235
- Private Day Tour: Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform: $299
- Private Hiking Tour: Binggou Danxia and Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Zhangye: $299
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Customize Your China Tour 2024/2025: $5.00
- Agent ticket booking service: Online ticket booking in China: $10
- Sichuan Opera night show Jinjiang theater tickets: $13
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Half Day Tour(Private): $16
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $18
- Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan One-Day Private Tour: $18
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $18
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $19
- Panda Breeding Base Private Tour/Ticket Only Option: $20
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Ticket pre-booking: $20
- Private Tour of Chengdu's Top 3 Must-go Attractions w Photo Shoot: $20
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangye $7.09Chengdu $4.04
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangye and Chengdu, we can see that Zhangye is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chengdu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chengdu 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 Zhangye would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zhangye than you might in Chengdu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zhangye Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangye or Chengdu?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Zhangye. When comparing the sizes of Zhangye and Chengdu, 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.