A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Shenyang vs. Katoomba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Shenyang or Katoomba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Shenyang or Katoomba? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Shenyang or Katoomba?

Shenyang

Shenyang, China is the capital, and largest, city in the Liaoning Province in northwest China which borders North Korea. Shenyang has a long, imperial, history and is the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty. The city has a blend of beautifully preserved architecture and modern buildings, creating a pleasant atmosphere for exploring!

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shenyang and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Shenyang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shenyang is in Asia and Katoomba 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 Shenyang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shenyang 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba than you might in Shenyang.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shenyang Expensive? and Is Katoomba Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Shenyang or Katoomba?

Shenyang has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Shenyang and Katoomba, 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 Shenyang or Katoomba?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Katoomba is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Shenyang has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Shenyang or Katoomba in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Shenyang as well as Katoomba. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Katoomba because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Shenyang is generally around the same temperature as Katoombain January. Daily temperatures in Shenyang average around 25°C (77°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shenyang this time of the year. In the summer, Shenyang often gets less sunshine than Katoombain January. Shenyang gets 214 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Katoomba. Shenyang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shenyang usually gets more rain in July than Katoombain January. Shenyang gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Shenyang or Katoomba in the Autumn?

Both Katoomba and Shenyang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

Shenyang is much colder than Katoomba in the autumn. The daily temperature in Shenyang averages around 10°C (51°F) in October, and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Shenyang. Shenyang usually receives more sunshine than Katoomba during autumn. Shenyang gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Shenyang usually receives less rain than Katoombain April. Shenyang gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Shenyang or Katoomba in the Winter?

Both Katoomba and Shenyang during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Katoomba for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Shenyang in the winter. In the winter, Shenyang is much colder than Katoomba. Typically, the winter temperatures in Shenyang in January average around -11°C (13°F), and Katoomba averages at about 11°C (51°F)in July.

In Katoomba, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Shenyang often gets less sunshine than Katoombain July. Shenyang gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun.

Shenyang usually gets less rain in January than Katoombain July. Shenyang gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Shenyang or Katoomba in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenyang and Katoomba. Also, many visitors come to Katoomba in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Shenyang is generally much colder than Katoombain October. Daily temperatures in Shenyang average around 10°C (50°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. In Shenyang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Shenyang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Katoomba during spring. Shenyang gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Shenyang usually receives less rain than Katoombain October. Shenyang gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Shenyang