Beijing travel guide
Beijing Travel Budget: Daily Costs & Calculator
Beijing costs roughly ¥250–400 (AU$50–85) per day backpacker-style, ¥700–1,200 (AU$150–250) mid-range and ¥2,000+ for comfort. Sights are cheap — the Forbidden City is ¥60 and most temples under ¥35 — so the bed and the food choices decide your budget.
How expensive is Beijing?
Mid-priced by Chinese standards, cheap by international ones. A week of major sights costs less than one theme-park day elsewhere; the metro is ¥3–9; and a satisfying local meal is ¥30–60. The splurges — five-star hotels, famous duck houses, cocktail bars — are optional. As a rule of thumb, ¥100 is about AU$21.
Beijing trip budget calculator
Pick your travel style and trip length — the calculator estimates your total budget in USD using real 2026 Beijing prices.
Excludes international flights. Lodging is per room (shared by travellers); other costs are per person. Prices in USD, converted from Chinese yuan (CNY) at typical 2026 rates.
Daily costs by style
| Backpacker | ¥250–400 / day (~AU$50–85): dorm bed ¥70–120, street food and noodle shops, metro everywhere, selective paid sights |
|---|---|
| Mid-range | ¥700–1,200 / day (~AU$150–250): 3–4-star double ¥400–700, restaurant meals, all the sights, Didi when convenient |
| Comfort | ¥2,000+ / day (~AU$420+): five-star from ¥1,000, famous-name duck dinners, private Great Wall transfers |
What things cost
Sights: Forbidden City ¥60 (April–October) or ¥40 in winter, Temple of Heaven ~¥34, Summer Palace ¥30, Lama Temple ¥25, Jingshan ¥2, Mutianyu Great Wall ~¥40 plus ~¥120 round-trip transport and cable car. Food: jianbing ¥8–15, noodles ¥20–35, local restaurant ¥30–60 per person, roast duck from ¥100–150 per person at casual houses, coffee ¥25–40. Transport: metro ¥3–9, airport express ¥25–35, Didi across town ¥20–40.
Money tips
Pay by Alipay or WeChat linked to your foreign card — cash is backup, cards work mainly at hotels. ATMs from Bank of China and ICBC reliably take foreign cards. Winter (except Chinese New Year) is the bargain season: hotels discount 30–40%. Book the Forbidden City and trains as early as systems allow; neither gets cheaper by waiting, but both sell out.
Also in China
Beijing budget — FAQs
How much money do I need per day in Beijing?
Around ¥250–400 (AU$50–85) covers a dorm bed, street food and the metro; ¥700–1,200 (AU$150–250) is comfortable mid-range with restaurants and all the sights. Sights are cheap — the Forbidden City is only ¥60.
Is Beijing expensive compared with Shanghai?
Slightly cheaper on balance: comparable hotels run 10–20% less than Shanghai, street food is cheaper, and sight entry prices are similar. Both are far cheaper than Tokyo or Singapore.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.