Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise or Tianjin?
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 Tianjin or Surfers Paradise?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin 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: Tianjin or Surfers Paradise?
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.
-
Tianjin Prices
China PricesSurfers Paradise Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $92Surfers Paradise $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $92, 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 Tianjin and Surfers Paradise in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $35Surfers Paradise $67
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $70Surfers Paradise $134
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Surfers Paradise
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tianjin $37Surfers Paradise $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Tianjin Airport ⇔ Tianjin City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service <Charter charter>: $13
- Tianjin Railway Station Private Transfer to Cruise Port: $32
- Tianjin Private Transfer to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall: $196
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port: $80
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Railway Station: $80
- Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $112
- Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer to City Hotels : $80
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $95
- Tianjin Cruise Port Transfer To Tianjin Airport one way private transfer: $50
- Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Binhai Railway Station: $32
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
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 Tianjin or Surfers Paradise?
Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise and Tianjin 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 dayTianjin $36Surfers 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.Tianjin $10Surfers Paradise $24
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Private Tour to Uncover Tianjin’s Must-Visit Bucket-List Spots : $248
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
- All-inclusive Tianjin Day Tour to Qing Emperor's Tomb & Huangyaguan Great Wall : $278
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
- From Beijing: Tianjin Highlights Day Tour by High-Speed Rail: $289
- Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265
- Private Great Wall Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $248
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $176
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 dayTianjin $11Surfers Paradise $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. And not only is Tianjin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tianjin 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 Tianjin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tianjin 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 Tianjin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Surfers Paradise Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Surfers Paradise?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin 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 Tianjin 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 Tianjin has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Tianjin or Surfers Paradise in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tianjin and Surfers Paradise. Furthermore, many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Tianjin is generally around the same temperature as Surfers Paradisein January. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 27°C (80°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Surfers Paradise this time of the year. In Tianjin, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tianjin usually receives less sunshine than Surfers Paradise during summer. Tianjin gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 256 hours of full sun in the summer.
Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tianjin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Tianjin usually receives more rain than Surfers Paradisein January. Tianjin gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryTianjin 27°C (80°F)Surfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Surfers Paradise in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tianjin as well as Surfers Paradise. Additionally, most visitors come to Surfers Paradise for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
Tianjin is cooler than Surfers Paradise in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tianjin averages around 15°C (58°F) in October, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 22°C (71°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tianjin this time of the year. In the autumn, Tianjin often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Surfers Paradisein April. Tianjin gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 214 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Surfers Paradise. Tianjin usually gets less rain in October than Surfers Paradisein April. Tianjin gets 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilTianjin 15°C (58°F)Surfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Surfers Paradise in the Winter?
Both Surfers Paradise and Tianjin are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Tianjin can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Tianjin is much colder than Surfers Paradise. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tianjin in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 15°C (59°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Surfers Paradise. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tianjin. Tianjin usually receives less sunshine than Surfers Paradise during winter. Tianjin gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Surfers Paradisein July. Tianjin gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyTianjin -3°C (27°F)Surfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Surfers Paradise in the Spring?
Both Surfers Paradise and Tianjin during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Surfers Paradise this time of year.
In April, Tianjin is generally cooler than Surfers Paradisein October. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 14°C (58°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
In Surfers Paradise, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tianjin. In the spring, Tianjin often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Surfers Paradisein October. Tianjin gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 259 hours of full sun.
Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tianjin usually gets less rain in April than Surfers Paradisein October. Tianjin gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberTianjin 14°C (58°F)Surfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Surfers Paradise and Tianjin
| Tianjin | Surfers Paradise | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (31°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (58°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (31°F) | 4 mm (0.2 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.