Which place is cheaper, Osaka or Guangzhou?
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 Guangzhou or Osaka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Guangzhou and Osaka can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guangzhou or Osaka?
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
Osaka
The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.
Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.
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Guangzhou Prices
China PricesOsaka Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuangzhou $104Osaka $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Guangzhou is $104, while the average daily cost in Osaka is $110. 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 Guangzhou and Osaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuangzhou $58Osaka $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuangzhou $116Osaka $96
Compare Hotels in Guangzhou and Osaka
Looking for a hotel in Guangzhou or Osaka? 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: Osaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guangzhou $14Osaka $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- [Airport transfer] Guangzhou Airport - Guangzhou city transfer service with a good reputation! <Private charter: $27
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Guangzhou HTL-APT (CAN): $62
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Guangzhou APT-HTL (CAN): $62
- Shenzhen Day Tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Private Transfer: $255
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou hotel to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: $33
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou hotel: $33
- Private Transfer in Guangzhou with Fluent English Speaking Driver: $90
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $176
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Baiyun Airport : $53
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $194
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou City Center to South Railway Station: $49
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Osaka
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:
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Subway$8.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka
Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer from Osaka city to Kansai airport: $72
- Airport Transfer!Hotel in center of Osaka to Kansai Airport (KIX): $192
- Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Car: $209
- Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Van: $258
- Itami Airport(ITM): Private Transfer from/to Osaka or Kyoto: $42
- Japan Railway Station Shared Arrival Transfer : Shin Osaka Station to Osaka City: $71
- Japan Railway Station Shared Departure Transfer : Osaka to Shin Osaka Station: $70
- Kansai Airport Osaka City Private Taxi Transfers: $282
- Kansai Airport（KIX） to or from Osaka Kyoto Private Transfer: $62
- Kansai Area City to City Transfer: $102
- Kansai Intl. Airport (KIX) Private Transfer to/from Osaka: $80
- Osaka : Private One-way Transfers to/from Kansai Airport(KIX): $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Guangzhou or Osaka?
Prices for flights to both Osaka and Guangzhou 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 dayGuangzhou $34Osaka $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou: $179
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Morning Tea, Cantonese Opera, and Food Tour: $183
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
- Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Din Tai Feng Dinner: $199
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
- Private Cooking Canton Cuisine Cooking Class in Guangzhou : $266
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Osaka
For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- PICCADILLY PREMIUM DINNER SHOW&NIGHTCLUB with Tasting: $17
- Takoyaki DIY Cooking in the Heart of Osaka: $30
- 1.5 Hour Food Tour at the Kuromon Market in Osaka: $34
- Kobe Beef Bowl Cooking Class in Osaka Afternoon : $41
- Cooking Class for Osaka Style Kushikatsu & Tonjiru (with Onigiri): $45
- Experience Cooking Takoyaki in its Birthplace, Osaka: $45
- Osaka Okonomiyaki Cooking Experience!: $51
- Private Food Tour & Bar Hopping in Namba: $52
- Family Friendly Osaka Tempura Cooking Class: $54
- Discover Osaka Cuisine through Cooking Class Experience: $55
- Osaka Cooking for Japanese Pescatarian dishes: $55
- Deep Backstreet Osaka Tours (Option to add Dinner): $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guangzhou $18Osaka $21
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- Liuxihe National Forest Park Private Day Tour from Guangzhou: $266
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 1-Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private City Tour: $185
- 3-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King Tomb in Guangzhou: $91
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $180
- 4-Hour Flexible Private Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Options: $153
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $100
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King & Academy of Clan Chen in Guangzhou: $91
- 5-Hour Private Guangzhou Yumcha Tasting with Local Food Market Experience : $118
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
- 6-Day Guangzhou to Guilin Scenic Tour: $1,598
Typical Entertainment Prices in Osaka
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Osaka Aquarium (for 2)$31
Tours and Activities in Osaka
For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Osaka Shinsaibashi: AMMONA Nightclub Entry Ticket (For Foreign): $6.83
- Osaka Dotonbori: GIRAFFE Nightclub Admission Ticket (For Foreign): $6.88
- Osaka Umeda: OWL Nightclub Admission Ticket (For Foreign): $6.88
- PICCADILLY PREMIUM Live Show & Nightclub Admission Tickets: $6.88
- Osaka Food Quest: Self-Guided Culinary & History Adventure: $7.16
- HEP Ferris Wheel Osaka Entry Ticket: $11
- Osaka Castle Entry Ticket: $13
- Osaka Castle Admission Ticket: $13
- Osaka Hidden Gems Tour: Tennoji & Oldest Temple with Audio Guide: $14
- Osaka Oracle GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $14
- Osaka Dotonbori Wonder Cruise: $14
- Osaka Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory ETicket: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuangzhou $14Osaka $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:
- Osaka Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $24
- Nada Gogo Sake Brewery Tour in Kobe from Osaka: $259
When comparing the travel costs between Guangzhou and Osaka, we can see that Osaka is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guangzhou Expensive? and Is Osaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guangzhou or Osaka?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Osaka. When comparing the sizes of Guangzhou and Osaka, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Guangzhou or Osaka?
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 Guangzhou or Osaka in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Guangzhou as well as Osaka. Also, many travelers come to Osaka for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Guangzhou is generally around the same temperature as Osaka. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 29°C (84°F), and Osaka fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Guangzhou this time of the year. In the summer, Guangzhou often gets more sunshine than Osaka. Guangzhou gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Osaka receives 183 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Osaka. Guangzhou receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guangzhou usually gets more rain in July than Osaka. Guangzhou gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Osaka receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuangzhou 29°C (84°F)Osaka 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Osaka in the Autumn?
Both Osaka and Guangzhou are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Osaka in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Guangzhou is a little warmer than Osaka in the autumn. The daily temperature in Guangzhou averages around 25°C (76°F) in October, and Osaka fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Guangzhou usually receives more sunshine than Osaka during autumn. Guangzhou gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Osaka receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Osaka. In October, Guangzhou usually receives less rain than Osaka. Guangzhou gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Osaka receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuangzhou 25°C (76°F)Osaka 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Osaka in the Winter?
Both Osaka and Guangzhou during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Osaka for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Guangzhou is much warmer than Osaka. Typically, the winter temperatures in Guangzhou in January average around 14°C (58°F), and Osaka averages at about 6°C (42°F).
In the winter, Guangzhou often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Osaka. Guangzhou gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Osaka receives 140 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Osaka. Guangzhou gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Osaka receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuangzhou 14°C (58°F)Osaka 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Osaka in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Guangzhou and Osaka. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Osaka because of the activities around the city.
In April, Guangzhou is generally a little warmer than Osaka. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 22°C (72°F), and Osaka fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Guangzhou usually receives less sunshine than Osaka during spring. Guangzhou gets 78 hours of sunny skies, while Osaka receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
Osaka receives a lot of rain in the spring. Guangzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Guangzhou usually receives more rain than Osaka. Guangzhou gets 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Osaka receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuangzhou 22°C (72°F)Osaka 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Osaka and Guangzhou
| Guangzhou | Osaka | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.