China Trip Cost Calculator – Plan Your Budget in 2 Minutes
You know where you want to go. You just need to know what it'll cost. Select your route, pick your travel style, and get an instant budget estimate. No sign-up, no email — just real numbers based on 2026 prices.
Interactive Calculator (Coming Soon)
The interactive calculator will let you: select your cities → choose budget/mid-range/luxury → set your trip length → get an instant per-person total. In the meantime, the sample budgets below cover the most popular routes at all three spending levels.
Sample Budgets for Popular Routes
All prices are per person, in USD, excluding international flights. These reflect 2026 mid-season prices. During Golden Weeks and Chinese New Year, add 20–30%.
Route 1: Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai (10 Days, Golden Triangle)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (9 nights) | $90–140 | $350–550 | $1,200–2,000 |
| Food (10 days) | $60–100 | $180–300 | $500–900 |
| Transport (trains, metro) | $120–160 | $200–280 | $500–800 |
| Attractions | $50–80 | $100–170 | $200–350 |
| Misc (SIM, laundry, tips) | $20–40 | $50–100 | $100–200 |
| TOTAL | $340–520 | $880–1,400 | $2,500–4,250 |
Full itinerary: Golden Triangle Route →
Route 2: Shanghai → Chengdu → Guilin (10 Days, East to South)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (9 nights) | $90–140 | $340–530 | $1,100–1,900 |
| Food (10 days) | $55–95 | $170–280 | $450–850 |
| Transport (flights + metro) | $180–250 | $280–400 | $600–1,000 |
| Attractions | $45–75 | $90–160 | $180–320 |
| Misc | $20–40 | $50–100 | $100–200 |
| TOTAL | $390–600 | $930–1,470 | $2,430–4,270 |
Route 3: Sichuan Loop (7 Days) — Chengdu → Leshan → Chongqing
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (6 nights) | $55–90 | $220–350 | $750–1,300 |
| Food (7 days) | $35–60 | $120–200 | $350–600 |
| Transport (trains + metro) | $60–90 | $110–170 | $250–450 |
| Attractions | $35–60 | $70–120 | $130–250 |
| Misc | $15–25 | $35–60 | $70–130 |
| TOTAL | $200–325 | $555–900 | $1,550–2,730 |
Route: Sichuan Food Trail →
Route 4: Beijing Only (5 Days, Imperial City Deep Dive)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (4 nights) | $36–56 | $160–280 | $550–1,000 |
| Food (5 days) | $25–40 | $80–150 | $250–450 |
| Transport (metro + airport) | $30–50 | $60–100 | $150–300 |
| Attractions | $20–40 | $55–100 | $120–200 |
| Misc | $10–20 | $25–50 | $50–100 |
| TOTAL | $121–206 | $380–680 | $1,120–2,050 |
Guide: Beijing Travel Guide →
Route 5: Shanghai Only (4 Days, Modern China Weekend)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (3 nights) | $30–50 | $140–250 | $500–900 |
| Food (4 days) | $22–38 | $75–140 | $220–400 |
| Transport (Maglev + metro) | $25–40 | $55–90 | $130–250 |
| Attractions | $15–30 | $45–80 | $100–180 |
| Misc | $8–15 | $20–40 | $40–80 |
| TOTAL | $100–173 | $335–600 | $990–1,810 |
Guide: Shanghai Travel Guide →
Route 6: Full Golden Route (14 Days) — Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (13 nights) | $120–190 | $500–800 | $1,800–3,000 |
| Food (14 days) | $80–140 | $250–420 | $750–1,300 |
| Transport (trains + 2 flights) | $200–320 | $350–540 | $800–1,400 |
| Attractions | $70–120 | $140–240 | $280–500 |
| Misc | $30–50 | $70–130 | $140–280 |
| TOTAL | $500–820 | $1,310–2,130 | $3,770–6,480 |
Full day-by-day: 14-Day Golden Route →
Cost Comparison – Budget vs Mid-Range vs Luxury
| Category | Budget ($) | Mid-Range ($) | Luxury ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (per night) | $8–15 (hostel dorm) | $40–80 (3-4 star hotel) | $120–300 (5-star) |
| Breakfast | $1–3 (street jianbing) | $4–8 (hotel or café) | $15–30 (hotel buffet) |
| Lunch | $2–5 (noodles / dumplings) | $6–15 (local restaurant) | $20–50 (fine dining) |
| Dinner | $3–8 (street food / fast) | $10–25 (mid-range restaurant) | $40–100 (fine dining) |
| Transport (per day) | $3–8 (metro + bus) | $10–25 (Didi + 2nd class train) | $30–80 (Didi Premier + 1st class) |
| Attractions (per day) | $5–10 (free + cheap) | $15–25 (major sites) | $30–60 (guided tours) |
Full cost comparison across 16 cities: Travel Cost by City →
Hidden Costs – What First-Timers Forget
| Cost | Typical Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese tourist visa | $140–185 | Single entry. Express +$25–40. Visa guide → |
| VPN subscription | $5–15/month | Install before departure. Astrill ( |
| SIM card or eSIM | $10–30 (15-day) | Airport: $20–30. City store: $10–15. Internet guide → |
| Travel insurance | $30–80 (2 weeks) | Essential. Check China coverage and pre-existing conditions |
| Airport transfers | $10–30 (metro) / $40–80 (taxi) | Per arrival/departure. Maglev Shanghai: ¥50 |
| Foreign-card transaction fees | 3% on purchases >¥200 | Avoid by pre-loading Tour Pass. Payment guide → |
| Laundry | $2–5 per load | Hostels: coin-operated. Hotels: expensive per-item service |
| Tipping | $0 | Not expected anywhere in China |
| Vaccinations | Varies | Check with your doctor. No mandatory vaccines for most nationalities |
Money-Saving Tips
| Tip | Savings |
|---|---|
| Overnight hard-sleeper trains | Save 1 night's accommodation + 50% vs high-speed rail |
| Eat one meal from a convenience store | ¥15 FamilyMart bento vs ¥40 restaurant lunch = $3–4 saved/day |
| Book train tickets directly on 12306 | Save ¥15–30 per ticket vs Trip.com fees |
| Visit free attractions | Jingshan Park (¥2), People's Park (free), the Bund (free). A day of free attractions saves $15–25 |
| Travel off-peak | Hotels 30–50% cheaper outside Golden Weeks and summer holidays |
| Use Alipay Tour Pass | Pre-load funds once; avoid 3% foreign-card fee on every purchase |
How the Calculator Works
All budget estimates are based on real 2026 prices collected from Trip.com, Dianping, 12306, and on-the-ground research by our editorial team. Prices are updated quarterly. Exchange rate: 1 USD ≈ 7.2 RMB (June 2026).
- Accommodation: Average of hostel/hotel prices across all cities on the route
- Food: 3 meals/day at the specified tier (street food → restaurant → fine dining)
- Transport: Cheapest reasonable option (metro → Didi → Didi Premier) + intercity trains
- Attractions: 1–2 major paid attractions per day + free sites
- Misc: SIM card, VPN, laundry, bottled water, incidental expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 2-week trip to China cost?
$500–820 for budget travelers (hostels + street food + trains). $1,300–2,130 for mid-range (3-4 star hotels + restaurants). $3,770–6,480 for luxury (5-star + fine dining). All per person, excluding international flights. See the Full Golden Route → breakdown above.
What is the cheapest way to travel China?
Stay in hostels ($8–15/night), eat street food ($6–10/day), take overnight hard-sleeper trains (saves accommodation + 50% vs high-speed rail), visit free attractions, and travel during off-peak months (November, March). Kunming and Xi'an are the cheapest major cities. See the budget guide →.
How much money do I need per day in China?
$22–35/day for budget travel in cheaper cities (Kunming, Xi'an). $35–55/day in tier-1 cities (Beijing, Shanghai). $60–130/day for comfortable mid-range. Full daily cost breakdown by city →.