How much spending money do I need for China?
If you have a trip to China coming up - as a tourist, to visit friends and family, for work or for any other reason - it’s important to know how much spending money is needed based on your plans. This guide looks at the prices in China for tourists, including some budgeting tips and ideas, for luxury and budget travel alike.
How Much Money Should You Take to China?
So - your question might well be: how much do I need in CNY (Chinese Yuan Renminbi) for a week in China?
We'll break down how much money you should take to China by different spending types later - but first, an overview. Here are some handy estimates to give you a flavour, looking at the costs of accommodation, food, transport and sightseeing, so you can start to budget, and decide how much money to bring to China, based on your spending for a day or for a week.
| Travel Style | Average Daily cost | One Week cost |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (Cheap) | £25 CNY 233 | £178 CNY 1,632 |
| Mid-range | £64 CNY 583 | £445 CNY 4,080 |
| High-end (Luxury) | £159 CNY 1,457 | £1,112 CNY 10,200 |
How Much Cash Should You Take to China?
Let's kick off with some key points when it comes to deciding how much cash to take to China.
Cash is very widely used in China, so having some with you at all times will be important. You can carry travel cash with you when you head to China, exchange at the airport, or use ATMs on arrival.
Bear in mind that exchange rates at airports and hotels are often pretty poor - and before you fly out with lots of cash on you, check the latest cash limit you can take to China before you need to declare it to the customs authorities. Ultimately, carrying lots of cash at any one time can be a security risk and make you a target for thieves.
Using an international travel debit card from a provider like Wise to make ATM withdrawals on arrival could be safer and cost less in the end.
Wise travel card
Order a Wise travel card to buy, hold and exchange 40+ currencies. You’ll be able to spend conveniently in China - and all currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with no markup.
Card holders get some free ATM withdrawals available every month, and there’s no annual or monthly fees to pay, and no minimum balance requirement.
Is China Expensive to Visit (in 2024)?
Ultimately, the cost of visiting China varies depending on your plans, and how you like to enjoy yourself when you're abroad.
Overall, China is rated as a "very expensive" place to visit by BudgetYourTrip. Accommodation, food, and activities are all available to suit any budget - but you'll need to plan your time to make sure you're making the most of both your time and your money while you're away.
What Currency should I take to China?
The official local currency used in China is the Chinese Yuan Renminbi-CNY. If you plan to take cash with you to spend while you're away, you'll need Chinese Yuan Renminbi.
The currency symbol is ¥, which is what you'll see in stores and on restaurant menus.
| Chinese Yuan Renminbi | |
|---|---|
| Currency name | Chinese Yuan Renminbi |
| Currency symbol | ¥ |
| Currency code | CNY |
| Exchange rate today | 1 GBP = 9.16875 CNY 1 CNY = 0.109066 GBP |
How to Save Money in China - Traveller tips
No matter what you're planning on doing during your trip to China, you want to make sure your money goes as far as possible.
Here are some top tips to save money in China:
- Book your hotels or accommodation in advance to secure the best available deals
- Use public transport where possible, or approved taxi and ride hailing operators
- Use Google maps and reviews to find good restaurants. You'll often find better food and more reasonable prices away from the most touristy areas of town
- Look online for recommendations of free or low-cost attractions and activities in China - blogs and travel magazines are a great place to start
- Use travel cards that offer fair exchange rates with transparent fees such as Wise, to keep down the costs of currency conversion and ATM use while you're away
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Costs and Prices in China for Tourists
Let's move on to the typical prices in China for tourists. Below we've got a handy overview of prices for accommodation, food and services for tourists in China. Use this along with your own research to figure out the likely costs and prices you'll come across during your visit.
Accommodation Costs in China
Accommodation is usually one of the biggest costs on any trip abroad - but what you pay in the end will depend a lot on the accommodation type you pick. Below is an example of accommodation costs in China based on two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room.
| Types of accommodation | Prices per night |
|---|---|
| Budget | £11 CNY 102 |
| Mid-Range | £27 CNY 248 |
| Luxury | £68 CNY 627 |
Daily Food Costs in China
Food is an important feature of a trip abroad for many of us - but what you spend can vary significantly depending on where you purchase your meals in China. As you might expect, buying food from local markets and stores can be one of the cheapest options, or you could choose to eat at mid-range restaurants, or sample some high-end establishments.
Here's an example of how much a meal costs in China based on different restaurant types.
| Types of Meal | Average Daily Cost |
|---|---|
| Budget | £7 CNY 68 |
| Mid-Range | £18 CNY 168 |
| Luxury | £43 CNY 393 |
Cost of Drink & Beverages
Let's move on to the cost of beer, wine, water and other beverages in China:
| Drink & Beverages | Prices |
|---|---|
| Beer (bottle) | £1 CNY 13 |
| Wine (bottle) | £9 CNY 82 |
| Can of Coca-cola /Pepsi | £0 CNY 3 |
| Mineral water (1.5L bottle) | £0 CNY 2 |
| Coffee, Cappuccino, Hot Chocolate | £3 CNY 24 |
Travel Costs in China
Once you've arrived in China you still need to figure out how to get around. The cost of travel can be different depending on your preferences - and how much of a hurry you're in. Using public transport is often our cheapest choice, but getting a taxi or hiring a car could be faster and more flexible, depending on your budget.
Some common ways to save money on transport in China include:
- Where possible use airport shuttles on arrival to get to the city centre
- Use buses, metro, trams or other public transport where you can - Google Maps can help you navigate more easily
Plan activities to limit the travel needed by covering the popular sites in one area before exploring the next, to avoid excess travel time
Use known taxi operators and approved ride-hailing companies.
Tourist Attractions Costs in China
China has many tourist attractions and beautiful places to visit.
The average daily cost for visiting attractions and entertainment in China is ¥124 Chinese Yuan Renminbi (£14).
| Top Tourist Attractions | Information |
|---|---|
| Great Wall of China | One of the most famous landmarks in the world, this ancient wall stretches over 13,000 miles across northern China. |
| Forbidden City | A vast palace complex in Beijing, serving as the imperial residence for Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years. |
| Terracotta Army | A collection of life-sized sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. |
Data Roaming, Internet, Local Sim Cards
Having easy access to your phone while you're away is important - not only to keep in touch with your friends and family, but also to navigate, look up good places to eat or visit, and to translate if needed. Make sure you don't get stuck without your phone - or with a big roaming bill - when you're in China with these tips:
- Turn off your data roaming if you're concerned about running up excess fees, and only use your phone on secure wifi networks while you're away
- Check the roaming costs with your mobile operator - you may be able to add a roaming data package to your normal plan for a fairly low price
- Consider getting an international eSIM if your phone is compatible with eSIMs - these can be low hassle ways to keep access to your data, without needing to install a physical SIM card
- Check the SIM card price for tourists in China, before travelling - you'll likely find people trying to sell you a local SIM in the airport when you arrive, so knowing the price you should pay can help you avoid scams
How Much Should You Tip in China?
Tipping etiquette can vary a lot between countries, and naturally depends a lot on the type of establishment you're in, or service you've received. Generally, tipping around 10-15% of the bill when you are happy with the service is in line with expectations.
Bear in mind that in some places a service fee - which is a percentage of the amount you spend - is already added to the bill, and means you don't need to add an additional tip unless you really want to. Check your bill before you pay - or just ask if the tip has already been included or not.
Shopping and Souvenirs
Take away something to remember your trip to China with - or as a gift to someone back home.
Silk and Tea Sets are the most popular souvenirs to buy from China. While you can pick up these and many other souvenirs and gifts at the airport, you'll normally save money by buying them from local shops instead.
How to Get the Best Exchange Rate for Chinese Yuan Renminbi
Naturally you want to get the very best GBP to CNY exchange rate. However, bear in mind that you'll also need to pick a secure and reputable provider when you exchange money. Black market money changers may look like they're offering great rates but they're not safe or reliable. Look out for the GBP - CNY exchange rate online or at the currency exchange office.
Always seek out official exchange companies that offer fair rates and transparent fees. Or, consider getting a travel money card, such as Wise, to ensure your transactions are secure and convenient. Use your Wise card to pay where card transactions are supported, or to get cash from the ATM whenever you need it during your visit to China.
The live exchange rate today is:
1 GBP = 9.16875 CNY
1 CNY = 0.109066 GBP
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