Is Chengdu expensive for tourists?

Chengdu is good value, but not magically cheap once you travel in a foreign-visitor way.

If you want a reliable hotel, smoother transport, coffee breaks, a few nicer dinners, and the freedom to take a DiDi when needed, your daily spend will be higher than the tiny numbers you sometimes see online.

What stays affordable:
- everyday local meals
- metro fares
- many core attraction tickets
- good food outside tourist-heavy zones

What pushes the budget up:
- better hotel standards
- staying in the easiest central areas
- café and nightlife habits
- solo travel, because you do not split rooms or car rides

Compared with major international cities:
- Chengdu is usually far cheaper than London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, or Seoul
- It is often better value than Beijing or Shanghai for the same comfort level
- It still feels affordable if you spend selectively rather than cheaply

So the honest answer is: Chengdu is not expensive, but the realistic foreign-traveler version is usually moderate rather than ultra-budget.