Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang or Beijing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Beijing or Pyeongchang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Pyeongchang can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Beijing or Pyeongchang?
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.
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Beijing Prices
China PricesPyeongchang Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeijing $91Pyeongchang $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $91, while the average daily cost in Pyeongchang is $133. 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 Beijing and Pyeongchang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeijing $40Pyeongchang $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeijing $80Pyeongchang $122
Compare Hotels in Beijing and Pyeongchang
Looking for a hotel in Beijing or Pyeongchang? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Pyeongchang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beijing $7.83Pyeongchang $24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.78
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Train from Airport for Two$7.01
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Taxi to Hotel$8.41
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2 Metro Passes$2.24
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Metro$0.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- [Airport Transfer] Beijing Capital Airport ⇔ Beijing City Transfer (one way) ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $25
- VIP Mutianyu Great Wall Tour: Expert Guide & Private Transfer: $87
- Universal Beijing Resort Private Transfer one way, City/Airport: $45
- Ultimate Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall Discovery with Airport Transfer: $186
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Beijing APT-HTL (PEK): $41
- Transfer: Beijing City Center to Beijing Airport (PEK): $42
- Transfer: Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) to Beijing City: $40
- Transfer to Daxing Intl Airport : $60
- Transfer to Beijing Capital Intl Airport : $35
- Transfer from Daxing Intl Airport : $60
- Tianjin Port Private transfers to Beijing Hotel&optionals: $219
- Tianjin International Cruise Port to Beijing Capital Airport by private transfer: $148
Is it cheaper to fly into Beijing or Pyeongchang?
Prices for flights to both Pyeongchang and Beijing 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 dayBeijing $34Pyeongchang $47
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.84
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Hot Pot Dinner$7.01
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.80
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Watermelon$1.96
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$17
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Two Popsicles$0.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $54
- China's Favourite Street Food Cooking Workshop: $55
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Private Local Food Tour in Beijing with a Local Guide: $59
- Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $70
- Beijing Hidden Hutong Bike & Food Tour - Pro Photos Included: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beijing $24Pyeongchang $50
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.41
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Two Opera Tickets$60
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.81
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Forbidden City (for 2)$17
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Forbidden City Tickets$17
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Day Mutianyu Great Wall and Beijing Airport Drop off Tour: $235
- 4-Hour Beijing Layover Tour to Hutong from Daxing Airport: $145
- All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour: $188
- All Inclusive Private Tour: Juyongguan Greatwall, Sacred Road, MingTombs : $180
- Beijing 2 Summer Palace Private Garden Tour: $140
- Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $121
- Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
- China Art Museum and 798 Art Zone Private Tour: $137
- China National Museum Ticket Pre-booking and Tiananmen Square : $9.50
- Forbidden City Private Walking Tour with Optional Sights: $81
- Forbidden City Tour : $116
- Forbidden city with Tian'anmen square layover tour of Beijing : $240
Tours and Activities in Pyeongchang
For Pyeongchang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Balwangsan Cable Car & Samyang Ranch One Day Tour: $78
- Alpensia 2D1N Ski Lift Tour: $141
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeijing $12Pyeongchang $8.69
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Tipsy Travel: Beijing Local Food and Bar Crawl night in Hutong: $158
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $199
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Pyeongchang, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang than you might in Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beijing Expensive? and Is Pyeongchang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Beijing or Pyeongchang?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Beijing or Pyeongchang in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Pyeongchang. Most visitors come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Beijing is around the same temperature as Pyeongchang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beijing in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 24°C (76°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the summer, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Pyeongchang. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 144 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. Beijing receives a lot of rain in the summer. Beijing usually gets less rain in July than Pyeongchang. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeijing 27°C (80°F)Pyeongchang 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?
Both Pyeongchang and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Beijing is generally cooler than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (56°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Pyeongchang during autumn. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 185 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. In October, Beijing usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeijing 14°C (56°F)Pyeongchang 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Pyeongchang in the Winter?
Both Pyeongchang and Beijing during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Pyeongchang. It's quite cold in Beijing in the winter. Beijing is much colder than Pyeongchang in the winter. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around -4°C (26°F) in January, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).
It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the winter, Beijing often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pyeongchang. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 190 hours of full sun.
Beijing usually gets less rain in January than Pyeongchang. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeijing -4°C (26°F)Pyeongchang 0°C (33°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Pyeongchang in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Pyeongchang. Many travelers come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Beijing is a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beijing in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 12°C (54°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pyeongchang this time of the year. In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Pyeongchang during spring. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Beijing usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeijing 14°C (57°F)Pyeongchang 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Beijing
| Beijing | Pyeongchang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
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.