China · Asia
Shantou, China: cost, safety and best time to visit (2026)
Population: 3.8MCurrency: CNYTime zone: Asia/Shanghai
US travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Best months to visit
Jan, Mar, Nov and Dec
highest visit score, Open-Meteo climate record
About Shantou
Shantou is a coastal city in Guangdong Province, China, with a population of about 3.8 million. It is not the national capital, and prices there reflect the country's generally moderate cost level combined with a slightly higher local cost factor for the city itself. Travelers can expect to spend around $45 a day on a budget trip, $110 a day for a mid-range stay, or $235 a day for a luxury visit, based on one person's daily costs; over a full week these add up to $315, $770, and $1,645 respectively. The climate swings widely across the year, from mild, dry conditions in the cooler months to hot, humid, and rain-heavy conditions in mid-summer. Travel advisories for China are issued at the country level rather than specifically for Shantou, so visitors should look at national-level guidance alongside any city-specific planning. Understanding the seasonal weather patterns and the general cost structure helps in deciding both when to go and how much to budget for the trip.
Weather through the year
Average high in °C and monthly rainfall in mm, from the Open-Meteo archive.
Jan
20°
17mm
Feb
20°
35mm
Mar
23°
79mm
Apr
27°
141mm
May
29°
214mm
Jun
31°
286mm
Jul
32°
332mm
Aug
32°
284mm
Sep
31°
351mm
Oct
30°
71mm
Nov
26°
30mm
Dec
22°
21mm
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a week in Shantou cost?
A week on a budget of $45 a day comes to $315 total. Mid-range travelers spending $110 a day will pay $770 for the week, while a luxury trip at $235 a day totals $1,645.
When is the best time to visit Shantou?
The highest-scoring months are January, March, November, and December, which combine milder temperatures, lower rainfall, and decent sunshine hours. November in particular pairs a high of 25.9C with only 30mm of rain and 8.3 hours of sunshine a day.
Is Shantou safe to visit?
The US State Department rates China at Level 3, meaning travelers should reconsider travel, and this is a country-level rating rather than one specific to Shantou. The UK FCDO notes that serious crime against foreign nationals is relatively rare, though scams and petty theft at tourist sites do occur.
Can I visit Shantou on a tight budget?
Yes, a budget of $45 a day is realistic for basic accommodation, local meals, and public transport. Travelers who stick to this tier and visit during the cheaper off-season months can keep costs close to this daily figure.
What is the cheapest time of year to visit?
June, July, and August are listed as the off-season, coinciding with the lowest visitor demand and typically lower prices. These months also bring the heaviest rain, with July recording 332mm, and the highest heat, with July highs of 32.3C.
What is food and local transport like in Shantou?
Local meals are inexpensive relative to mid-range or luxury dining, fitting comfortably within the $45 daily budget tier. Public transport such as buses is a low-cost way to get around and factors into the same budget-level daily spending.
Keep reading
More on Shantou
Where it ranks
Country
Sources
- GeoNames city database — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 14, 2026
- Open-Meteo climate archive — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 21, 2026
- World Bank price level and exchange rate — CC BY 4.0, data year 2025
- US State Department travel advisories — public domain, fetched September 21, 2026
- UK FCDO foreign travel advice — Open Government Licence v3, fetched September 21, 2026
AI-written interpretation reviewed against the data above — claude-sonnet-5, generated September 21, 2026. Every number on this page comes from a dataset named here; the formulas are public.