The Short Answer
How much do you need for a China trip?
- Budget traveler: $50-80 USD/day (hostels, local food, public transport)
- Mid-range traveler: $100-200 USD/day (3-4 star hotels, mix of restaurants, some taxis)
- Luxury traveler: $300+ USD/day (5-star hotels, fine dining, private tours)
For a 10-day trip:
- Budget: $500-800 USD (excluding flights)
- Mid-range: $1,000-2,000 USD
- Luxury: $3,000+ USD
Note: Prices in this guide are based on 2026 rates. China is generally affordable compared to Western countries, but costs vary significantly by city (Beijing/Shanghai are pricier than smaller cities).
Accommodation Costs
Budget Options
Hostels: ¥50-150/night ($7-21 USD)
- Dorm beds in major cities: ¥50-100
- Private room in hostel: ¥100-200
- Best booking sites: Hostelworld, Booking.com
Budget hotels: ¥150-300/night ($21-42 USD)
- Chinese chain hotels (Home Inn, Hanting)
- Basic but clean, often no English spoken
Mid-Range Options
3-4 star hotels: ¥300-800/night ($42-112 USD)
- International chains (Holiday Inn, Novotel)
- Good locations, English-speaking staff
- Book via Trip.com or Booking.com
Luxury Options
5-star hotels: ¥800-3000+/night ($112-420+ USD)
- International luxury brands (Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons)
- Beijing/Shanghai: ¥1500-5000+ for top properties
- Smaller cities: ¥800-1500 for 5-star
Food Costs
Street Food & Local Restaurants
Street food: ¥5-20 per item ($0.70-2.80 USD)
- Jianbing (煎饼): ¥5-10
- Baozi (包子): ¥2-5 each
- Noodles (面条): ¥15-30
- Dumplings (饺子): ¥20-40 for a plate
Local restaurants: ¥30-80 per meal ($4-11 USD)
- Simple dishes: ¥30-50
- Set meals: ¥40-80
- Local specialties: ¥50-100
Mid-Range Restaurants
Price: ¥80-200 per meal ($11-28 USD)
- Nice restaurants with English menus
- Peking Duck: ¥150-300 for half duck
- Hot pot for two: ¥150-300
Western & Fine Dining
Western restaurants: ¥100-300 per meal ($14-42 USD)
- Pizza: ¥60-120
- Burger: ¥50-100
- Pasta: ¥60-120
Fine dining: ¥300-1000+ per meal ($42-140+ USD)
- Michelin-starred restaurants in Shanghai/Beijing
- High-end hotel restaurants
Transportation Costs
Within Cities
Subway: ¥2-10 per ride ($0.28-1.40 USD)
- Most rides: ¥3-5
- Longest rides: ¥7-10
- Buy a transport card (一卡通) for convenience
Bus: ¥1-2 per ride ($0.14-0.28 USD)
- Cheapest option but can be crowded
- Payment via transport card or Alipay
Taxi: ¥10-50 for short rides ($1.40-7 USD)
- Starting fare: ¥10-14 (varies by city)
- Typical inner-city ride: ¥20-40
- Airport to city center: ¥80-150
Didi (ride-hailing): Similar to taxi, sometimes cheaper
Between Cities
High-speed train:
- Beijing-Shanghai: ¥553-1748 ($77-244 USD)
- Beijing-Xi'an: ¥515-1559 ($72-218 USD)
- Shanghai-Hangzhou: ¥73-220 ($10-31 USD)
Domestic flights:
- Beijing-Shanghai: ¥400-1200 ($56-168 USD)
- Beijing-Chengdu: ¥500-1500 ($70-210 USD)
- Book in advance for better prices
Conventional train (slower):
- Hard seat: ¥100-200 ($14-28 USD)
- Hard sleeper: ¥200-400 ($28-56 USD)
- Soft sleeper: ¥300-600 ($42-84 USD)
Attraction Costs
Major Attractions
| Attraction | Price (¥) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Great Wall (Badaling) | ¥40-60 | $6-8 |
| Forbidden City | ¥60 | $8 |
| Summer Palace | ¥30 | $4 |
| Terracotta Warriors | ¥120 | $17 |
| Zhangjiajie National Park | ¥225 | $31 |
| Shanghai Tower | ¥180 | $25 |
Tip: Many attractions offer student discounts (50% off with ISIC card). Seniors (65+) also get discounts at many sites.
Free Attractions
- Tiananmen Square (Beijing)
- The Bund (Shanghai)
- West Lake (Hangzhou)
- Nanjing Road (Shanghai)
- Many temples have free sections
Sample Daily Budgets
Budget Traveler ($50-80/day)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed | ¥80 ($11) |
| 3 meals (street food + local restaurants) | ¥90 ($13) |
| Local transport (subway + bus) | ¥20 ($3) |
| One attraction | ¥50 ($7) |
| Miscellaneous (water, snacks) | ¥30 ($4) |
| Total | ¥270 ($38) |
Plus occasional train/flight between cities: ¥200-500 per leg
Mid-Range Traveler ($100-200/day)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 3-4 star hotel | ¥500 ($70) |
| 3 meals (mix of local and mid-range) | ¥200 ($28) |
| Transport (taxi/Didi + subway) | ¥80 ($11) |
| Attractions | ¥100 ($14) |
| Miscellaneous | ¥70 ($10) |
| Total | ¥950 ($133) |
Luxury Traveler ($300+/day)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 5-star hotel | ¥2000 ($280) |
| Fine dining + hotel breakfast | ¥500 ($70) |
| Private driver/guide | ¥600 ($84) |
| Premium attractions + VIP access | ¥200 ($28) |
| Miscellaneous | ¥200 ($28) |
| Total | ¥3500 ($490) |
Hidden Costs to Budget For
Visa Fees
- China tourist visa: $140-160 USD (varies by country)
- 144-hour visa-free transit: Free (if eligible)
VPN
- Essential for accessing Google, Facebook, Instagram
- Cost: $5-15/month
- Recommend: ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Astrill
Travel Insurance
- Recommended for any China trip
- Cost: $50-150 for 2 weeks
Phone/SIM Card
- China SIM card: ¥50-100 for data package
- eSIM: $20-50 for 7-15 days
- International roaming: Check with your carrier
Tipping
- Not expected in restaurants or taxis
- Hotel porters: ¥10-20 per bag (optional)
- Tour guides: ¥50-100 per day (appreciated)
Money-Saving Tips
- Use Alipay/WeChat Pay: Many vendors offer discounts for mobile payment
- Eat where locals eat: Avoid tourist restaurants – look for crowded local spots
- Book trains early: High-speed train prices are fixed, but popular times sell out
- Visit free attractions: Many parks, temples, and walking areas cost nothing
- Use subway over ta ...(truncated)...