East Asia · 1 city covered
We track one city in China. Its mid-range shoulder-season day comes to $385, which is 38% above the median across all 68 cities in the index.
Hong Kong is the anchor — vertical city held between sea and jungle peaks. Accommodation is 51% of the mid-range day there, so where you sleep decides most of the budget.
Season coefficients are calibrated per city, not shared. Across China the peak-to-low swing runs 23%–23%, widest in Hong Kong (23%, year-round business hub pattern: low Jan–Feb, Aug at ×0.92, peak May–Jun, Sep–Oct at ×1.13). Corporate and convention demand fills the calendar, so leisure seasonality is shallow. The cheapest weeks are mid-summer and January, when business travel drops.
Mid-range, shoulder season, same five line items. Difference is relative to China ($385/day).
| Country | Mid · shoulder | vs China |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | $236/day | -39% |
| South Korea | $300/day | -22% |
| Japan | $397/day | +3% |
On average, a mid-range traveller spends $385 per day in China during shoulder season. Budget travellers can get by on around $155/day, while a luxury trip averages $1220/day.
The most affordable destination in China is Hong Kong, where a budget trip costs about $155 per day in low season.
At the top end, Hong Kong reaches around $1220 per day during peak season.
The best windows vary by city, but many destinations in China are ideal during Oct–Dec or shoulder season for a balance of weather and price.