Which place is cheaper, Tokyo 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 Tokyo?
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 Tokyo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guangzhou or Tokyo?
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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
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 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Guangzhou Prices
China PricesTokyo Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuangzhou $104Tokyo $190
The average daily cost (per person) in Guangzhou is $104, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $190. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuangzhou $58Tokyo $79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuangzhou $116Tokyo $158
Compare Hotels in Guangzhou and Tokyo
Looking for a hotel in Guangzhou or Tokyo? 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guangzhou $14Tokyo $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Shenzhen Day Tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Private Transfer: $255
- Guangzhou Layover Visa-Free Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $194
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $176
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $170
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service, To Dongguan Transfer: $135
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Private Arrival Transfer in English-speaking: Airport to Hotel: $99
- Guangzhou Night Pearl River Cruise VIP Seating with Private Transfer: $96
- Private Transfer in Guangzhou with Fluent English Speaking Driver: $90
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Tokyo to Narita Airport: $232
- Airport Shuttle Arrival Transfer : from Haneda Airport to Tokyo City: $65
- Airport Transfer between Narita and Tokyo or Disney or Yokohama: $231
- Airport Transfer: Haneda Airport and Tokyo 23 wards: $135
- Center Tokyo Private One Way Transfer To Haneda Airport: $116
- DECKS Tokyo Beach & Odaiba 1 Way Door to Door Shared Transfer: $56
- Departure Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND in Sedan: $286
- Departure Transfer from Tokyo City to Haneda Airport HND by van: $176
- Disabled-passenger transfer from Haneda Airport to Yokohama Port : $216
- Discount Rate, Airport Shuttle Van Transfer, Haneda ⇔ Narita : $260
- Discover Makaino Farm with Bus Transfer from Tokyo: $71
- Disneyland or Disneysea Transfer to or from Tokyo English Driver: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Guangzhou or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 $34Tokyo $67
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
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.41
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.41
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Meal at Airport$7.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tsukiji Food Tour Explore Markets and Temples in Tokyo: $18
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $21
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $34
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour : $34
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $34
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Tokyo Bay Yakatabune Dinner/Day Cruise with Japan Show and Drinks: $44
- Weekend Japanese Cooking Demonstration with a Tokyo Mom, Toshiko: $49
- Japanese Sushi Cooking Class: $51
- Tokyo private hidden food tour: $55
- Mastering the Grill A Ninja Yakiniku A5 Wagyu Dinner in Nippori : $56
- Tokyo Retro Backstreet Tokyo Tour Option to Add Dinner: $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guangzhou $18Tokyo $71
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
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- Tokyo 4‑Day Self‑Guided PDF Tour of Senso‑ji, Shibuya and more: $3.42
- Imperial Palace or Edo Castle Time Trip Learning Walking Tour: $3.42
- Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Guided Tour: $3.46
- Self-Guided Tour of Tokyo's Hidden Alleys: $3.57
- Cross Roppongi Karaoke Nightclub Ticket (For Foreign): $6.76
- Tokyo Asakusa & Senso-ji Tour with Audioguide: $8.34
- Tokyo Metro Subway Ticket: $8.85
- Horse Racing Tour with Local Fans in Tokyo: $10
- Shibuya drinking tour: $10
- Gyoda Oshi Castle Ninja Experience : $11
- Tokyo Subway Ticket : $11
- Water Bus Ticket Odaiba ↔ Asakusa: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuangzhou $14Tokyo $34
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$4.06
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Low-cost local pub & bar crawling: $34
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $38
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Weekly Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $114
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $116
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo : $132
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $142
- Cultural Sake Brewery Private Tour & Unlimited Tasting Near Tokyo: $172
- From Tokyo：Mt.fuji /Museum/Sake brewery/ 1DAY BUS TOUR: $201
- Private tour: Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and riverside walk.: $242
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guangzhou and Tokyo, we can see that Tokyo is more expensive. And not only is Guangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guangzhou 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo than you might in Guangzhou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guangzhou Expensive? and Is Tokyo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guangzhou or Tokyo?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Guangzhou. When comparing the sizes of Guangzhou and Tokyo, 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 Tokyo?
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 Tokyo in the Summer?
Both Tokyo and Guangzhou during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Guangzhou is generally a little warmer than Tokyo. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 29°C (84°F), and Tokyo fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
It's quite sunny in Guangzhou. In the summer, Guangzhou often gets more sunshine than Tokyo. Guangzhou gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tokyo receives 137 hours of full sun.
Tokyo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guangzhou. Guangzhou usually gets more rain in July than Tokyo. Guangzhou gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuangzhou 29°C (84°F)Tokyo 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Tokyo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Guangzhou and Tokyo. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Tokyo this time of year.
Guangzhou is a little warmer than Tokyo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Guangzhou averages around 25°C (76°F) in October, and Tokyo fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Guangzhou usually receives more sunshine than Tokyo during autumn. Guangzhou gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Tokyo receives 129 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Guangzhou usually receives less rain than Tokyo. Guangzhou gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuangzhou 25°C (76°F)Tokyo 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Tokyo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Guangzhou as well as Tokyo. Also, many travelers come to Tokyo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Guangzhou is much warmer than Tokyo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Guangzhou in January average around 14°C (58°F), and Tokyo averages at about 5°C (42°F).
In the winter, Guangzhou often gets less sunshine than Tokyo. Guangzhou gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tokyo receives 175 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Tokyo. Guangzhou gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuangzhou 14°C (58°F)Tokyo 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Tokyo in the Spring?
Both Tokyo and Guangzhou are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Tokyo in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Guangzhou is generally much warmer than Tokyo. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 22°C (72°F), and Tokyo fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Guangzhou usually receives less sunshine than Tokyo during spring. Guangzhou gets 78 hours of sunny skies, while Tokyo receives 161 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tokyo. It's quite rainy in Guangzhou. In April, Guangzhou usually receives more rain than Tokyo. Guangzhou gets 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuangzhou 22°C (72°F)Tokyo 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Tokyo and Guangzhou
| Guangzhou | Tokyo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.