How Much Does China Cost? Daily Budget Breakdown for 2025

One of the best things about traveling in China is the value. Your money goes further here than in most developed countries, though how far depends entirely on your travel style.

This guide breaks down realistic costs for budget, mid-range, and comfortable travel, so you can plan accurately.

Quick Summary: Daily Costs

Travel Style	Daily Budget (CNY)	Daily Budget (USD)
Backpacker	¥250-400	$35-55
Mid-range	¥500-900	$70-125
Comfortable	¥1,000-2,000	$140-280
Luxury	¥2,500+	$350+

These are per-person costs assuming double occupancy for accommodation.

---

Budget Breakdown: Backpacker Style

Daily total: ¥250-400 ($35-55)

Accommodation: ¥50-120/night

• Hostel dorm: ¥50-80 ($7-11)
• Budget hotel (twin share): ¥100-150 ($14-21) = ¥50-75/person
• Guesthouse: ¥80-120 ($11-17)

Where to find: Hostels exist in all tourist cities. Booking.com and Hostelworld work.

Food: ¥60-100/day

• Breakfast: ¥8-15 (street food, convenience store)
• Lunch: ¥15-30 (local restaurant, noodles, rice dish)
• Dinner: ¥25-40 (local restaurant)
• Snacks/drinks: ¥10-20

Eat where locals eat. Avoid tourist restaurants. Street food is cheap and delicious.

Transportation: ¥30-80/day

• Metro: ¥3-8 per ride
• Bus: ¥1-2 per ride
• Occasional taxi: ¥20-40

Stick to public transit. It's efficient and incredibly cheap.

Activities: ¥50-100/day

• Many parks are free
• Temple entry: ¥10-30
• Museums: Often free or ¥10-30
• Major attractions: ¥40-150 (average out over trip)

Budget travelers hit fewer paid attractions and spend more time in free public spaces.

Backpacker Tips

• Cook in hostel kitchens occasionally
• Take slower trains (K/T instead of G)
• Travel overnight to save on accommodation
• Eat at university cafeterias (cheap and decent)
• Download offline maps to avoid data costs

---

Budget Breakdown: Mid-Range Travel

Daily total: ¥500-900 ($70-125)

Accommodation: ¥250-500/night

• 3-star hotel: ¥200-400 ($28-55) = ¥100-200/person
• Nice Airbnb: ¥300-500 ($42-70)
• Boutique hotel: ¥400-600 ($55-85)

You get: Private bathroom, AC, decent location, breakfast sometimes included.

Food: ¥150-250/day

• Breakfast: ¥20-40 (hotel or café)
• Lunch: ¥40-70 (decent restaurant)
• Dinner: ¥60-100 (good restaurant, one nice meal)
• Drinks/snacks: ¥20-40

You can eat well at this level—try regional specialties, nicer restaurants, occasional Western food.

Transportation: ¥80-200/day

• Metro/bus: ¥30-50
• Taxi/Didi: ¥50-100
• Occasional high-speed train: Factor in separately

High-speed trains between cities: ¥200-600 per journey.

Activities: ¥100-200/day

• Hit all major attractions
• Audio guides or tours
• Occasional shows or experiences
• One or two big-ticket items per city

Mid-Range Tips

• Book hotels with breakfast included
• Use Didi instead of taxis (cheaper, no scams)
• Buy multi-day metro passes in cities
• Book attraction tickets online (sometimes cheaper)

---

Budget Breakdown: Comfortable Travel

Daily total: ¥1,000-2,000 ($140-280)

Accommodation: ¥600-1,200/night

• 4-star hotel: ¥500-900 ($70-125) = ¥250-450/person
• International chains: ¥600-1,200
• Boutique luxury: ¥800-1,500

You get: Quality hotels, good locations, reliable service, English-speaking staff.

Food: ¥300-500/day

• Breakfast: Hotel included or ¥50-80 café
• Lunch: ¥80-150 (good restaurants)
• Dinner: ¥150-250 (memorable meals, special cuisines)
• Drinks/wine: ¥50-100

Eat at recommended restaurants, try signature dishes, enjoy the food scene.

Transportation: ¥150-400/day

• Taxis freely: ¥100-200
• Occasional private transfers: ¥200-400
• First-class train: Premium over second class

Activities: ¥200-400/day

• All attractions plus extras
• Private guides
• Special experiences (cooking classes, etc.)
• Shows and performances

Comfortable Travel Tips

• Use Trip.com for packages
• Hire private guides for complex sites
• Book business class on trains for long journeys
• Stay in international hotels for reliability

---

Luxury Travel: No Limits

Daily total: ¥2,500+ ($350+)

• 5-star hotels: ¥1,500-5,000/night
• Fine dining: ¥500-1,500/meal
• Private tours: ¥1,000-3,000/day
• Domestic flights: First class
• Private cars: ¥800-2,000/day

At this level, China offers incredible value compared to European or American luxury. A night at the Waldorf Astoria in Shanghai costs half what you'd pay in New York.

---

Cost Comparison: China vs. Elsewhere

Category	China	USA	Europe	Thailand
Budget hostel	$8-12	$30-50	$25-40	$5-10
Mid-range hotel	$50-80	$120-180	$100-150	$30-50
Local meal	$3-6	$12-18	$10-15	$2-4
Nice dinner	$15-30	$40-80	$35-60	$10-20
Beer	$1-3	$5-8	$4-7	$2-3
Metro ride	$0.50-1	$2-3	$2-4	$0.50-1

China is cheaper than the West, comparable to or slightly pricier than Southeast Asia for backpackers, but offers more infrastructure and amenities.

---

Major Expense: Attraction Tickets

China's famous sites aren't cheap:

Attraction	Cost (CNY)	Cost (USD)
Forbidden City	¥60	$8
Great Wall (Mutianyu)	¥45	$6
Great Wall cable car	¥120	$17
Terracotta Warriors	¥150	$21
Shanghai Tower	¥180	$25
Zhangjiajie glass bridge	¥138	$19
Potala Palace	¥200	$28

Budget ¥300-500 per major city for attractions, averaged over your trip.

---

Major Expense: Intercity Transportation

Trains:

Route	Second Class	First Class
Beijing-Shanghai	¥553	¥933
Beijing-Xi'an	¥515	¥824
Shanghai-Hangzhou	¥73	¥117
Guangzhou-Shenzhen	¥75	¥100

Flights (booked in advance):

• Short haul: ¥300-800
• Long haul: ¥800-1,500
• Budget airlines exist (Spring Airlines)

---

Hidden Costs to Budget For

Mobile/Data

• Tourist SIM: ¥200-300 for 2-4 weeks
• Or roaming charges from your carrier

VPN

• If not already subscribed: $10-15/month

Visa

• Varies by nationality: $140 (US), £151 (UK), €60-80 (EU)

Travel Insurance

• $30-100 for 2 weeks depending on coverage

Tips and Extras

• Tour guide tips: ¥50-200/day
• Temple donations
• Unexpected taxis
• Shopping

---

Money-Saving Tips

Accommodation

• Book in advance for popular destinations
• Consider location vs. price trade-off
• Use Chinese booking apps (Ctrip/Trip.com) for local deals

Food

• Eat breakfast where locals eat (cheap and authentic)
• Lunch specials are often cheaper than dinner
• University areas have cheap food
• Avoid obvious tourist restaurants

Transportation

• Book trains in advance
• Take overnight trains to save a night's hotel
• Use public transit, not taxis
• Compare train vs. flight prices

Attractions

• Book tickets online (sometimes discounted)
• Visit free parks and neighborhoods
• Student discounts available with ISIC card
• Skip overpriced shows unless highly recommended

---

Sample 2-Week Budgets

Budget Backpacker

• 14 nights accommodation: ¥1,400
• Food (14 days): ¥1,200
• Transportation: ¥1,500 (including trains)
• Activities: ¥1,000
• Total: ¥5,100 (~$710)

Mid-Range Traveler

• 14 nights accommodation: ¥5,000
• Food (14 days): ¥2,800
• Transportation: ¥2,500
• Activities: ¥2,000
• Total: ¥12,300 (~$1,700)

Comfortable Traveler

• 14 nights accommodation: ¥10,000
• Food (14 days): ¥5,000
• Transportation: ¥4,000
• Activities: ¥4,000
• Total: ¥23,000 (~$3,200)

Add visa, flights, insurance, and shopping to these totals.

---

Need currency conversion on the go? The China Survival Kit includes a live currency converter, budget tracker, and cost guides for major cities.