Travel budget and cost of living in Qingdao (China) how much does a trip cost?

Qingdao travel budget

Qingdao: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Qingdao

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Qingdao for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Qingdao compared to United States in 2025

On average, the cost of living in Qingdao in 2025 is 40% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Qingdao in 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Qingdao by expense type

Restaurant budget in Qingdao

Lunch

$ 3.4/person
($ 2.1 to $ 5)

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83% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 8.9/person
($ 6.4 to $ 15)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 5/person
($ 4.3 to $ 7.1)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Local beer

$ 1 for 500ml
($ 0.7 to $ 2.8)

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83% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 1.5 for 330ml
($ 1.3 to $ 2.1)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 3.1/cup
($ 1.4 to $ 4.3)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 0.6/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1)

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78% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 0.3/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 0.5)

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86% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Hotel and accommodation budget in Qingdao

1-star hotel

$ 90/night
($ 89 to $ 89)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 170

2-star hotel

$ 116/night
($ 31 to $ 560)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166

3-star hotel

$ 145/night
($ 38 to $ 711)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 244

4-star hotel

$ 177/night
($ 53 to $ 713)

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49% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 347

5-star hotel

$ 191/night
($ 105 to $ 454)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 578

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 443/month
($ 300 to $ 840)

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151% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 177

Room with kitchen

$ 164/month
($ 69 to $ 434)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 264

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 181/month
($ 55 to $ 726)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Cottage or guest house

$ 349/month
($ 199 to $ 500)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 255

Family room

$ 219/month
($ 44 to $ 979)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 217

Supermarket food budget in Qingdao

Milk

$ 2/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 2.8)

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90% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.4/500g
($ 1 to $ 2.8)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Rice

$ 1/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 1.4)

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78% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 1.6/12 eggs
($ 0.7 to $ 3.4)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4

Chicken

$ 4.3/kg
($ 2.6 to $ 6.3)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1.7)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 1/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.2 to $ 1)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 0.6
($ 0.2 to $ 1.2)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Public and private transport budget in Qingdao

Bus ticket

$ 0.2/ticket
($ 0.2 to $ 0.5)

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88% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.3/km
($ 0.3 to $ 1)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1 to $ 1.2)

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29% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.5
($ 1.3 to $ 1.7)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 32/24hrs
($ 18 to $ 150)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 83

Leisure activity budget in Qingdao

Cinema

$ 6.4/ticket
($ 5.7 to $ 8.5)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Tennis

$ 18/hr
($ 8.5 to $ 30)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Qingdao

Cigarettes

$ 4/pack
($ 3.6 to $ 4.5)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.5

Levi's jeans

$ 58
($ 9.9 to $ 101)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 44
($ 15 to $ 58)

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1% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

London → Beijing

$ 950
(fair price: $ 770)

Montreal → Beijing

$ 1447
(fair price: $ 1275)

Sydney → Beijing

$ 849
(fair price: $ 632)

Melbourne → Beijing

$ 847
(fair price: $ 628)

Edinburgh → Beijing

$ 954
(fair price: $ 735)

Auckland → Beijing

$ 934
(fair price: $ 668)