slug: budget-overview title: "China Travel Budget Guide" section: budget summary: "Daily cost breakdowns for budget (¥150–300), mid-range (¥300–700), and luxury (¥700+) travellers." lastVerified: "2026-06-26" officialSourceUrl: "https://www.gov.cn"
China spans an enormous price range. A backpacker can travel comfortably on ¥200 per day; a luxury traveller can easily spend ¥2,000 or more. The good news is that value is genuinely available at every level — local food is outstanding and cheap, public transport is affordable, and major attractions are priced reasonably. Here is a realistic breakdown of daily costs by tier.
Budget Tier: ¥150–300 per day (USD 20–40 / EUR 18–36)
Budget Travel Is Genuinely Possible
Xi'an and Chengdu offer the best value at the budget tier — major attractions are close together, local food is excellent and inexpensive, and hostel competition keeps prices low. Beijing and Shanghai are possible on a budget but require more discipline.
At the budget tier, you stay in hostel dorms or budget private rooms, eat at local restaurants and street stalls, and use metro and buses for all transport.
Accommodation: Hostel dorm bed ¥50–100 per night; budget private room ¥100–150 per night
Food: Street food and local restaurants cost ¥20–40 per meal; convenience store meals ¥15–30; a typical daily food budget at this tier is ¥60–120
Transport: City metro fares are ¥4–8 per trip; daily local transport typically ¥20–40; long-distance high-speed rail (second class) ¥100–350 for Beijing–Shanghai — factor this separately from your daily budget
Activities: Major attractions typically ¥60–120 entry (Great Wall at Mutianyu ¥65, Forbidden City ¥60, West Lake in Hangzhou is free); budget ¥50–100 per day for sightseeing
Daily total (excluding intercity rail): ¥150–300
Mid-Range Tier: ¥300–700 per day (USD 40–96 / EUR 36–86)
At mid-range, you stay in 3-star hotels or boutique guesthouses, eat at a mix of local restaurants and occasionally nicer spots, and combine metro with Didi or taxi for convenience.
Accommodation: Budget hotel or boutique guesthouse ¥200–400 per night; business hotel ¥350–600 per night
Food: Mix of local restaurants and occasional Western or upscale Chinese dining ¥80–200 per meal; daily food and drink budget ¥150–300
Transport: Metro plus occasional taxi or Didi ¥40–80 per day; high-speed rail first class ¥150–500 per journey
Activities: Entry fees, guided tours, and experiences ¥100–200 per day
Daily total: ¥300–700
Luxury Tier: ¥700+ per day (USD 96+ / EUR 86+)
At the luxury end, China delivers outstanding value compared to equivalent spending in Western Europe or North America. International five-star brands operate flagship properties in Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities, and fine dining at excellent restaurants costs a fraction of comparable restaurants in London or New York.
Accommodation: 5-star international hotel ¥800–2,500 per night
Food: Fine dining and upscale restaurants ¥300–800 per meal; daily food and drink budget ¥600–1,500
Transport: Business class high-speed rail, private car transfers ¥200–600 per day
Activities: Private guided tours, premium cultural experiences, VIP access ¥300–800 per day
Daily total: ¥700–3,000+
Cost Variations by City
Beijing and Shanghai are China's most expensive cities — accommodation in particular can match Western European prices during peak season. Xi'an, Chengdu, and Guilin are significantly cheaper for both accommodation and food, while still offering world-class attractions. Factor in transport costs between cities when planning a multi-city trip.
These estimates exclude international flights and certain specialist travel — tours to Tibet require special permits and guided groups that add significant cost beyond the daily estimates above. For a personalised trip cost estimate based on your destinations, duration, and preferred tier, the Budget Estimator tool on this site will be available in a future update.