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

Should you visit Shenyang or Surfers Paradise?

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

Should I visit Shenyang or Surfers Paradise? 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 Surfers Paradise?

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!

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 The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise or Shenyang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Shenyang Prices
    China Prices
    Surfers Paradise Prices
    Australia Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Shenyang $85
    Surfers Paradise $124

The average daily cost (per person) in Shenyang is $85, 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 Shenyang and Surfers Paradise in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Shenyang $41
    Surfers Paradise $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Shenyang $82
    Surfers Paradise $134
Compare Hotels in Shenyang and Surfers Paradise

Looking for a hotel in Shenyang 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.

Hotels in Shenyang


Hotels in Surfers Paradise


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.
    Shenyang $20
    Surfers 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 Shenyang or Surfers Paradise?

Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise and Shenyang 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 day
    Shenyang $32
    Surfers Paradise $45

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Shenyang $7.81
    Surfers Paradise $24

Tours and Activities in Shenyang

For Shenyang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Shenyang to Dandong: China North-eastern Border Day Tour: $350

Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • 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:

  • Catch a Crab Tour with Optional Seafood Lunch: $63
  • Evening Rainforest & Glow Worm Tour from Gold Coast: $80
  • Glow Worms + Day/Night Rainforest & Waterfalls Experience: $133
  • Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise 1 Day Pass: $30
  • Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $37
  • Gold Coast: 360-Degree High-Speed Jet Boat Adventure: $39
  • Gold Coast: Springbrook 7 Waterfalls and Natural Bridge Day Tour: $120
  • HOTA: Gold Coast Home of the Arts Cruise & Dine Experience Pass: $27
  • Kangaroos & Koalas in the Wild - Private Nature Experience: $227
  • Kangaroos and Mountain Views Day Tour from Gold Coast: $80
  • Lamington National Park, O'Reilly's & Vineyard Tour: $86
  • Natural Bridge Glow Worm Night Tour from Gold Coast: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Shenyang $5.91
    Surfers Paradise $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shenyang and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise 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 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 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 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 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 Surfers Paradise Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Shenyang or Surfers Paradise?

Shenyang has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Shenyang and Surfers Paradise, 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 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 Shenyang has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Shenyang or Surfers Paradise in the Summer?

Both Surfers Paradise and Shenyang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Shenyang is around the same temperature as Surfers Paradise. Typically, the summer temperatures in Shenyang in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Surfers Paradise. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Shenyang. Shenyang usually receives less sunshine than Surfers Paradise during summer. Shenyang gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 256 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. It's quite rainy in Shenyang. In July, Shenyang usually receives around the same amount of rain as Surfers Paradisein January. Shenyang gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Shenyang 25°C (77°F) 
    Surfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Shenyang or Surfers Paradise in the Autumn?

Both Surfers Paradise and Shenyang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Surfers Paradise for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Shenyang is generally much colder than Surfers Paradisein April. Daily temperatures in Shenyang average around 10°C (51°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

In Surfers Paradise, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Shenyang. In the autumn, Shenyang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Surfers Paradisein April. Shenyang gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 214 hours of full sun.

Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Shenyang usually gets less rain in October than Surfers Paradisein April. Shenyang gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Shenyang 10°C (51°F) 
    Surfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Shenyang or Surfers Paradise in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenyang and Surfers Paradise. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Shenyang can be very cold during winter. Shenyang is much colder than Surfers Paradise in the winter. The daily temperature in Shenyang averages around -11°C (13°F) in January, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Surfers Paradise this time of the year. Shenyang usually receives less sunshine than Surfers Paradise during winter. Shenyang gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Shenyang usually receives less rain than Surfers Paradisein July. Shenyang gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Shenyang -11°C (13°F) 
    Surfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Shenyang or Surfers Paradise in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Shenyang as well as Surfers Paradise. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Surfers Paradise this time of year.

In the spring, Shenyang is much colder than Surfers Paradise. Typically, the spring temperatures in Shenyang in April average around 10°C (50°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 21°C (69°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shenyang this time of the year. In the spring, Shenyang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Surfers Paradisein October. Shenyang gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 259 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Surfers Paradise. Shenyang usually gets less rain in April than Surfers Paradisein October. Shenyang gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Shenyang 10°C (50°F) 
    Surfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)

Typical Weather for Surfers Paradise and Shenyang

Shenyang Surfers Paradise
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -11°C (13°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 25°C (77°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Feb -7°C (19°F) 17 mm (0.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 157 mm (6.2 in)
Mar 1°C (34°F) 17 mm (0.7 in) 24°C (75°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Apr 10°C (50°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 22°C (71°F) 101 mm (4 in)
May 17°C (63°F) 52 mm (2 in) 19°C (66°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 16°C (61°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 15°C (59°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 153 mm (6 in) 16°C (61°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 76 mm (3 in) 18°C (65°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Oct 10°C (51°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 21°C (69°F) 103 mm (4 in)
Nov 1°C (34°F) 17 mm (0.7 in) 23°C (73°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Dec -7°C (19°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 24°C (76°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)