12. Some Parts of China, $25/day
China’s big cities have all kinds of fancy restaurants and hotels that can eat right into your budget in a big way, but in a country this vast, you just need to get off the beaten path for a cheaper yet more authentic experience. Think provinces like Sichuan, Dali , and Guangxi, where cheap accommodation, delicious street food, and unique experiences like having a BBQ with the locals, or riding a bicycle around, can be completely free or very, very cheap.
Even in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, there are ways to cut your travel costs down. Hostels are a great value – perhaps the best in the world – and as always, if you stick to eating street food, you won’t need a lot of money to get by. What’s expensive is intercity traveling, as transportation can run a bit more expensive at $20+ for 8-hour buses and upwards from there. China is a huge country and therefore, moving around quickly and on higher classes of train can add up quickly. If you pick a province and spend a longer time in it, this will not be a problem.
Meals: $4 – $8 per day
Accommodation: $5 – $10 per night in a hostel or a local guesthouse
Transportation: $1 – $3 for a full day of bus and train rides in the city, or $10 – $30 for an intercity bus or train ride
SIM card with data: $15 for 2GB with 30-day validity. Don’t forget your VPN subscriptions so you can stayed connected with your social media and Google!
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