Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Guangzhou?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Guangzhou or Whitsundays?
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 Whitsundays can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guangzhou or Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.
-
Guangzhou Prices
China PricesWhitsundays Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuangzhou $104Whitsundays $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Guangzhou is $104, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $155. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuangzhou $58Whitsundays $69
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuangzhou $116Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Guangzhou and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Guangzhou or Whitsundays? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guangzhou $14Whitsundays $55
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Guangzhou or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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
-
Food Meals for one dayGuangzhou $34Whitsundays $52
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 Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset Dinner Cruise: $99
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guangzhou $18Whitsundays $25
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 Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $164
- MILADY Whitsundays 2-Night Private Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,953
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuangzhou $14Whitsundays $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guangzhou and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Guangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guangzhou is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Guangzhou or Whitsundays?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Whitsundays is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Guangzhou has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Guangzhou or Whitsundays in the Summer?
Both Whitsundays and Guangzhou during the summer are popular places to visit.
Guangzhou is a little warmer than Whitsundays in the summer. The daily temperature in Guangzhou averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Guangzhou. In the summer, Guangzhou often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Guangzhou gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guangzhou. Guangzhou usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Guangzhou gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryGuangzhou 29°C (84°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Guangzhou and Whitsundays.
In the autumn, Guangzhou is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Guangzhou in October average around 25°C (76°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Guangzhou usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during autumn. Guangzhou gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Guangzhou usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin April. Guangzhou gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilGuangzhou 25°C (76°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Whitsundays in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Guangzhou as well as Whitsundays.
In January, Guangzhou is generally cooler than Whitsundaysin July. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 14°C (58°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the winter, Guangzhou often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin July. Guangzhou gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou usually gets more rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Guangzhou gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyGuangzhou 14°C (58°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays and Guangzhou are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Guangzhou is around the same temperature as Whitsundays in the spring. The daily temperature in Guangzhou averages around 22°C (72°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Guangzhou usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Guangzhou gets 78 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Guangzhou. In April, Guangzhou usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Guangzhou gets 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberGuangzhou 22°C (72°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Guangzhou
| Guangzhou | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.