Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise or Hongcun?
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 Hongcun or Surfers Paradise?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hongcun and Surfers Paradise 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: Hongcun or Surfers Paradise?
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.
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Hongcun Prices
China PricesSurfers Paradise Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHongcun $67Surfers Paradise $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Hongcun is $67, while the average daily cost in Surfers Paradise is $124. 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 Hongcun and Surfers Paradise in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHongcun $23Surfers Paradise $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHongcun $46Surfers Paradise $134
Compare Hotels in Hongcun and Surfers Paradise
Looking for a hotel in Hongcun or Surfers Paradise? 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hongcun $12Surfers Paradise $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Hongcun or Surfers Paradise?
Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise and Hongcun 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 dayHongcun $33Surfers Paradise $45
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.91
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hongcun $17Surfers Paradise $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$79
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Midday River Cruise: $19
- Gold Coast Afternoon River Cruise: $21
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing City Lights Cruise: $26
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing River Cruises: $26
- HOTA: Gold Coast Home of the Arts Cruise & Dine Experience Pass: $27
- Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise 1 Day Pass: $30
- Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $37
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Sunset River Cruise: $37
- Guided Gold Coast Amphibious Bus Tour: $38
- Gold Coast: 360-Degree High-Speed Jet Boat Adventure: $39
- Tropical Fruit World Farm Full Tour : $45
- Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak Tour: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHongcun $14Surfers Paradise $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hongcun and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hongcun is in Asia and Surfers Paradise 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 Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise than you might in Hongcun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hongcun Expensive? and Is Surfers Paradise Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Hongcun or Surfers Paradise?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Surfers Paradise is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Hongcun has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Hongcun or Surfers Paradise in the Summer?
Both Surfers Paradise and Hongcun during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Hongcun is a little warmer than Surfers Paradise in the summer. The daily temperature in Hongcun averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. Hongcun usually gets more rain in July than Surfers Paradisein January. Hongcun gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryHongcun 29°C (85°F)Surfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Surfers Paradise in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hongcun and Surfers Paradise. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Surfers Paradise this time of year.
In the autumn, Hongcun is cooler than Surfers Paradise. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hongcun in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 22°C (71°F)in April.
Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Hongcun usually receives less rain than Surfers Paradisein April. Hongcun gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilHongcun 19°C (65°F)Surfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Surfers Paradise in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hongcun as well as Surfers Paradise. Additionally, many travelers come to Surfers Paradise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Hongcun in the winter. In January, Hongcun is generally much colder than Surfers Paradisein July. Daily temperatures in Hongcun average around 4°C (40°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Hongcun usually gets less rain in January than Surfers Paradisein July. Hongcun gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyHongcun 4°C (40°F)Surfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Surfers Paradise in the Spring?
Both Surfers Paradise and Hongcun are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the spring for the beaches.
Hongcun is cooler than Surfers Paradise in the spring. The daily temperature in Hongcun averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 21°C (69°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. It's quite rainy in Hongcun. In April, Hongcun usually receives more rain than Surfers Paradisein October. Hongcun gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberHongcun 17°C (62°F)Surfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Surfers Paradise and Hongcun
| Hongcun | Surfers Paradise | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 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.