A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ubud vs. Shenzhen for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ubud or Shenzhen?

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 Ubud and Shenzhen. 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: Ubud or Shenzhen?

Ubud

Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.

Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.

Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.

Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.

Shenzhen

Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions.  It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen or Ubud?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ubud is $153, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $140. 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 Ubud and Shenzhen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ubud $128
    Shenzhen $91
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ubud $256
    Shenzhen $182
Compare Hotels in Ubud and Shenzhen

Looking for a hotel in Ubud or Shenzhen? 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 Ubud


Hotels in Shenzhen


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: Ubud Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ubud $1.75
    Shenzhen $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:

  • White Water Rafting Ubud Bali With Hotel Transfer: $30
  • Waterbom Bali Day Pass with Hotel Transfer: $76
  • Water Rafting With Private Transfer And Lunch: $85
  • Vip Airport Transfer : $32
  • Ayung River Rafting & Jungle Swing Ticket with Transfer: $69
  • Ubud White Water Rafting with Private Transfer & Lunch: $33
  • Ubud Cultural and Historical Guided Tour with Transfer: $46
  • Ubud Countryside Cycling Tour (Included Private Transfer & Lunch): $69
  • Ubud Bali Private Airport Transfers – Seamless & Stress-Free: $13
  • Ubud Airport transfer and pick up: $20
  • Ubud -Airport Private Transfer: $7.00
  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Denpasar APT-HTL(DPS) : $8.88

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen

Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • A One-Way Disneyland Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Hotel: $33
  • A One-Way Hotel Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Disneyland: $36
  • HK Airport to Cruise Terminal Rounded-Trip Private Transfer by Lexus Luxury Car: $141
  • HK Local Transfer in City, Cruise Terminal and Train Station: $88
  • Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $45
  • Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
  • Hong Kong Airport Transfer: $119
  • Hong Kong Airport Transfer Sevice With Classic Car : $66
  • Hong Kong City to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - Departure Private Transfer : $62
  • Hong Kong Hassle free Airport Transfers in Tesla or Benz: $138
  • Hong Kong Private Transfer — Victoria Peak ⇄ Tian Tan Big Buddha: $148
  • Hong Kong Private Transfer from Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport to Hong Kong: $84

Is it cheaper to fly into Ubud or Shenzhen?

Prices for flights to both Shenzhen and Ubud 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
    Ubud $20
    Shenzhen $35

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.

  • Ubud Mystic Dinner at Oracle of Spice Lemuria The Lost City: $17
  • Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
  • Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
  • Ubud Cooking Class by Lemon Grass Cooking Class: $26
  • Afternoon Cooking Class & Making Bali Offering with Dinner: $29
  • Uluwatu Sunset Trip with Kecak Dance Show and Jimbaran Dinner: $30
  • Amazing Half-Day Uluwatu Sunset Tour with Jimbaran Seafood Dinner: $30
  • Be a real Balinese with Traditional Balinese Cooking Class: $30
  • Private Traditional Bali Cooking Class in Sidemen: $31
  • Cultural Evening Dinner: $31
  • Uluwatu Sunset Experience: Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $34
  • Ubud Cooking : All Inclusive Cooking Class: $35

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Locals - Dim Sum, Wonton & more: $53
  • Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $98
  • Explore Hong Kong: Mid-Autumn Festival Food Tour: $103
  • Discover Hong Kong’s Hidden Eats on a Tin Hau Food Tour: $109
  • Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $116
  • Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
  • Private Food Tour in Hong Kong: $148
  • Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $149
  • The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $176
  • Hong Kong Private & Personalized Food Tour with a Local: $177
  • Asian Favorites Cooking Class in Hong Kong (4-Course Meal): $184
  • Hong Kong Style Noodles Cooking Class (Includes 4-Course Meal): $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ubud $9.84
    Shenzhen $17

Tours and Activities in Ubud

Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Balaji Adventure Bali Quad Bike 350cc and Ayung Rafting: $48
  • Bali Rafting and ATV Private Tour Adventure: $105
  • Barong Dance and Waterfall tour in Bali: $35
  • Best Ubud Tours -All inclusive with private driver: $35
  • Explore Bali with Private ATV Ride + Tour with VW Car: $80
  • Full Day Private Tour from Tegenungan Waterfall to Tanah Lot: $55
  • Full Day Ubud Tour: $95
  • Lembongan Snorkeling Swim With Manta Rays and Island Tour: $55
  • Mount Batur Jeep Tour and Hot Spring: $24
  • Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour & Natural Hot Spring: $40
  • Nusa Penida Island West Tour - All Inclusive: $37
  • One Day Tour Nusa Penida East & West Part : $49

Tours and Activities in Shenzhen

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

  • Introduction to Hong Kong: Central Tip Based Walking Tour: $2.64
  • Day in the life of a Hong Konger: Kowloon Tip Based Walking Tour: $2.64
  • Between Two Systems: Hong Kong's Living History Tip Based Tour: $2.64
  • Hong kong City Tour w/ Entry Fees & Lunch (2024) | 150+ booked: $2.64
  • Hong Kong Observation Wheel Ticket: $5.45
  • Hong Kong Airport Express Ticket: $10
  • Hong Kong Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428 Tickets (Optional): $13
  • Monopoly Dreams Hong Kong Entry Ticket: $13
  • Hong Kong Airport Express Train Tickets(Avoid Heavy Traffic): $15
  • Hong Kong Airport Express E-Ticket : $15
  • The Victoria Peak Tram Ticket | Hong Kong: $15
  • Hong Kong Palace Museum Ticket: $17

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ubud $6.62
    Shenzhen $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Shenzhen

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Shenzhen:

  • Hong Kong Pub Crawl at Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): $46


When comparing the travel costs between Ubud and Shenzhen, we can see that Ubud is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Ubud or Shenzhen?

Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Ubud and Shenzhen, 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.