Here's the good news: China is better value than most travellers expect. Meals cost a few dollars, the metro is small change, and high-speed trains cross the country for a fraction of European fares. What you spend depends almost entirely on two choices — where you sleep, and whether you travel with a guide. Below are honest numbers for each style.
In this guide
1. Daily budgets by travel style
Per person, per day, excluding international flights:
| Style | Per day | What that buys |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$40–70 | Hostels/budget hotels, street food, metro and second-class trains, self-guided |
| Mid-range | US$120–200 | Good 4-star hotels, restaurant meals, trains, tickets, occasional guide |
| Private tour | US$250–450 | 4–5 star hotels, private guide + car & driver daily, all tickets and transfers |
| Luxury | US$600+ | Landmark 5-star suites, top guides, fine dining, flights between cities |
2. What things actually cost
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Street food / noodles | US$2–5 |
| Restaurant meal | US$8–20 per person |
| Peking duck dinner | US$25–50 per person |
| Metro ride | US$0.50–1 |
| Bullet train, Beijing–Xi'an | US$70–110 (2nd/1st class) |
| Major site ticket | US$5–12 |
| 4-star hotel, per night | US$60–120 |
| 5-star hotel, per night | US$150–350 |
| Private guide + car, per day | US$120–220 (shared by your group) |
Prices are indicative for 2026 and vary by city and season — Beijing and Shanghai sit at the top of these ranges, smaller cities well below.
3. Sample 12-day trip budgets
The classic first-timer route — Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Shanghai — per person, land only:
- Budget, independent — around US$700–1,100
- Mid-range, independent — around US$1,800–2,800
- Private, guided end to end — around US$3,000–5,000
Add international flights on top; these vary hugely by origin and season.
Our signature 12-day Classic China starts at US$2,980 per person — private guide, car and driver throughout, hotels, trains and entrance tickets included. See the journeys →
4. Where a private trip is worth it
Independent travel in China is cheaper, and entirely doable. A private trip buys back time and friction — which matters more in China than in most places:
- The language gap — outside hotels and big-city centres, English is limited; a guide removes the daily friction.
- Timed tickets — the Forbidden City and other top sights sell out days ahead through Chinese-language systems.
- Distances — cities are vast; a private car turns three sights a day into five, comfortably.
- Depth — the difference between seeing the Great Wall and understanding it is a good guide.
- Group economics — the guide and car are per-group, so per-person cost drops sharply for couples and families.
5. Easy ways to spend less
- Travel shoulder season — March, June or November cut hotel rates and crowds. See our best-time guide.
- Take trains, not planes — cheaper, city-centre to city-centre, and often faster door to door.
- Eat where locals eat — the best food in China is rarely the expensive food.
- Second class is fine — comfortable on almost every route; save First for the long hauls.
- Skip the avoidable holidays — Golden Week and Chinese New Year spike every price.
Tell us your budget — we'll design to it. Give us your dates, interests and a number, and we'll build an itinerary that fits, and tell you honestly where to spend and where to save. Free to plan, no obligation. Get a free quote →