Which place is cheaper, Sapporo or Pingyao?
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 Pingyao or Sapporo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pingyao and Sapporo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Pingyao or Sapporo?
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
Sapporo
Capital of the northern Japanese island Hokkaido, Sapporo is a city surrounded by mountains and known for its beer, skiing, and annual snow festival with stunning ice sculptures. As host to the 1972 Winter Olympics, the city limits are dotted with ski jumps, hills, and popular ski resorts still in use today.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.
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Pingyao Prices
China PricesSapporo Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPingyao $69Sapporo $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $69, while the average daily cost in Sapporo is $132. 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 Pingyao and Sapporo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPingyao $23Sapporo $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPingyao $46Sapporo $130
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Sapporo
Looking for a hotel in Pingyao or Sapporo? 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: Sapporo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pingyao $13Sapporo $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sapporo
Also for Sapporo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shin Chitose Airport to/from Sapporo City: Shared Transfer: $93
- Private Transfer from Sapporo City Hotels to Otaru Cruise Port: $113
- Sapporo City: Private Transfer to/from New Chitose Airport: $132
- Airport Transfer! Hotel in center of Sapporo to New Chitose Airport (CTS): $140
- Private Departure Transfer : Sapporo City to New Chitose Airport: $237
- Private Transfer from Muroran Cruise Port to Sapporo Airport(CTS): $274
- New Chitose Airport (CTS) Private Transfer: $284
Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Sapporo?
Prices for flights to both Sapporo and Pingyao 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 dayPingyao $34Sapporo $54
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.05
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Mango Juice$0.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sapporo
For Sapporo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Japanese Cooking Class in Sapporo with Local Host Kanae: $72
- Japanese Cooking Class in the Heart of Sapporo with Sakura: $72
- Private Market Tour and Cooking Class with Kanae, a Sapporo Local: $82
- Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour: $97
- Hands-on Japanese Home Cooking Class in Sapporo with Noriko: $108
- Sapporo Night Food Tour: 3 Hidden Restaurants with a Foodie Guide: $218
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pingyao $19Sapporo $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.80
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.01
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.56
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
- Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
Tours and Activities in Sapporo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sapporo.
- JR Tower Observatory Admission Ticket: $4.33
- Sapporo TV Tower Admission Ticket: $6.76
- Historical Village of Hokkaido Entry Ticket: $6.76
- JR Tower Observation Deck T38 Ticket in Hokkaido: $9.00
- Sapporo Highlights: Golden Route Morning Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Sapporo Highlights: Golden Route Morning Walking Tour: $31
- Hokkaido Shrine Tour with Rituals, History & Sweets: $43
- Tour of the Historic Red Brick Government Office: $50
- Sapporo Afternoon Walking Tour 2h 30mins: $55
- Beer Museum Tour with Tasting of Local Brews: $57
- Sapporo Walking Tour: $61
- Authentic Nijo Market Seafood Lunch & History Tour: $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPingyao $14Sapporo $8.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Sapporo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sapporo:
- Sapporo Tour in the Port City of Otaru and Local beer brewery: $174
- 1-Day Tour The port city of Otaru & Local Brewery: $178
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pingyao and Sapporo, we can see that Sapporo is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Sapporo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sapporo than you might in Pingyao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pingyao Expensive? and Is Sapporo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Sapporo?
Sapporo has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao and Sapporo, 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.
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.