China Travel Cost Index 2026
What does China actually cost per day? Daily travel costs across 43 cities and three budget tiers — with national averages, the cheapest and priciest cities, and where the money goes. A reference you can cite.
$53
avg. budget tier — per person, per day
$129
avg. mid-range tier — per person, per day
$330
avg. luxury tier — per person, per day
Pingyao
cheapest city — from $35/day
All figures are USD per person, per day, covering accommodation, food, local transport and site entry. They exclude international flights and travel insurance. National averages are the mean across all 43 cities below.
Daily cost by city (43 cities)
Sorted from most affordable to most expensive by mid-range daily cost.
| City | Region | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pingyao 平遥 | North China | $35 | $80 | $200+ |
| Luoyang 洛阳 | Central China | $40 | $90 | $220+ |
| Guiyang 贵阳 | Southwest China | $40 | $90 | $220+ |
| Datong 大同 | North China | $40 | $90 | $220+ |
| Quanzhou 泉州 | South China | $40 | $95 | $240+ |
| Xi'an 西安 | Northwest China | $45 | $100 | $250+ |
| Wuhan 武汉 | Central China | $45 | $100 | $240+ |
| Nanjing 南京 | East China | $45 | $110 | $260+ |
| Kunming 昆明 | Southwest China | $45 | $110 | $260+ |
| Tianjin 天津 | North China | $45 | $110 | $260+ |
| Changsha 长沙 | Central China | $45 | $110 | $260+ |
| Chengde 承德 | North China | $45 | $110 | $260+ |
| Fuzhou 福州 | South China | $45 | $110 | $260+ |
| Leshan 乐山 | Southwest China | $45 | $110 | $260+ |
| Guilin 桂林 | South China | $50 | $120 | $280+ |
| Chengdu 成都 | Southwest China | $50 | $120 | $300+ |
| Chongqing 重庆 | Southwest China | $50 | $120 | $280+ |
| Dali 大理 | Southwest China | $45 | $120 | $300+ |
| Dujiangyan 都江堰 | Southwest China | $45 | $120 | $300+ |
| Zhangjiajie 张家界 | Central China | $55 | $130 | $300+ |
| Hangzhou 杭州 | East China | $55 | $130 | $350+ |
| Guangzhou 广州 | South China | $55 | $130 | $320+ |
| Qingdao 青岛 | East China | $55 | $130 | $320+ |
| Dunhuang 敦煌 | Northwest China | $55 | $130 | $320+ |
| Suzhou 苏州 | East China | $55 | $130 | $320+ |
| Lijiang 丽江 | Southwest China | $50 | $130 | $320+ |
| Xishuangbanna 西双版纳 | Southwest China | $50 | $130 | $320+ |
| Ningbo 宁波 | East China | $55 | $130 | $320+ |
| Zhouzhuang Water Town 周庄 | East China | $55 | $130 | $320+ |
| Xiamen 厦门 | South China | $60 | $140 | $340+ |
| Yunnan 云南 | Southwest China | $55 | $140 | $380+ |
| Shangri‑La 香格里拉 | Southwest China | $55 | $140 | $350+ |
| Mount Emei 峨眉山 | Southwest China | $55 | $140 | $380+ |
| Beijing 北京 | North China | $60 | $150 | $400+ |
| Shenzhen 深圳 | South China | $65 | $150 | $380+ |
| Harbin 哈尔滨 | Northeast China | $60 | $150 | $420+ |
| Wuzhen Water Town 乌镇 | East China | $60 | $150 | $450+ |
| Macau 澳门 | South China | $70 | $160 | $450+ |
| Jiuzhaigou 九寨沟 | Southwest China | $65 | $160 | $420+ |
| Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) 黄山 | East China | $70 | $160 | $450+ |
| Shanghai 上海 | East China | $70 | $180 | $500+ |
| Sanya 三亚 | South China | $80 | $200 | $650+ |
| Hong Kong 香港 | South China | $90 | $220 | $550+ |
| National average | $53 | $129 | $330+ | |
Source: Panda Touring destination research, June 2026. Per-person averages; actual costs vary by season, booking timing and personal choices.
Pingyao
From $35/day (budget) · $80/day (mid-range)
Hong Kong
$220/day (mid-range) · up to $550+/day (luxury)
Where the money goes
Typical share of a daily mid-range budget, with representative 2026 unit costs.
| Category | Share of daily budget | Representative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 35–50% | Hostel dorm $10–20 · 3-star hotel $40–80 · 5-star $150–400+ |
| Food & drink | 15–25% | Street meal $1–3 · local restaurant $2–5 · mid-range dinner $15–30 |
| Local transport | 5–10% | Metro ride $0.50–1 · taxi start $2 · day metro pass ~$5 |
| Attractions & entry | 10–20% | Major site entry $8–20 · private day guide $80–150 |
| Intercity travel | 10–20% | Beijing–Shanghai high-speed rail ~$80 · domestic flight $100–200 |
Want a total for your specific trip?
Open the Budget Calculator →Frequently asked questions
How much does a trip to China cost per day in 2026?
Across 43 Chinese cities, the average daily cost per person is about $53 for budget travel, $129 for mid-range, and $330 for luxury. These figures cover accommodation, food, local transport and site entry — they exclude international flights.
What is the cheapest city to visit in China?
Of the cities we track, Pingyao is the most affordable, from about $35/day on a budget. The most expensive is Hong Kong, where mid-range travel runs around $220/day.
What is the biggest travel expense in China?
Accommodation is usually the largest share of a daily budget (35–50%), followed by intercity travel and attractions. International flights are typically the biggest one-time cost of the whole trip.
Is China cheap to travel in?
China offers strong value versus Western Europe, Japan or Australia. Street meals cost $1–3, metro rides $0.50–1, and mid-range hotels run 30–50% below comparable European properties. The main costs are flights and private guiding.
How are these China cost figures calculated?
They are per-person daily averages compiled by the Panda Touring editorial team across 43 destinations, last reviewed June 2026. Actual costs vary with season, booking timing and personal choices.
Citing this index
Writing about the cost of travelling in China? You're welcome to cite this page. Suggested credit: “China Travel Cost Index 2026, Panda Touring (pandatouring.com), 43 cities, updated June 2026.” Figures are per-person daily averages in USD.
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