Is Shangri-La expensive to visit?
Shangri-La is a charming destination that draws in visitors with an array of travel preferences, spending habits, and budgetary choices. You'll find a wide array of accommodation options, such as luxury hotels, mid-range places, or budget-friendly hostels.
If you're not cautious, Shangri-La can become costly, but you can save with strategies like looking for discounts and coupons.
On average, budget travelers spend $26 (¥189) per day, mid-range travelers spend $60 (¥434) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $117 (¥851) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to Shangri-La.
Within Asia, Shangri-La is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Luang Prabang, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Similan Islands.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Shangri-La Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Shangri-La?
The average Shangri-La trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Shangri-La travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Shangri-La cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
It's important to be realistic about your budget for Shangri-La. Many assume they can visit on a shoestring, but most travelers find that to be very challenging. Think about what matters to you when traveling. Is it staying in a resort, visiting all the attractions, or dining out at nice restaurants? These factors will determine how much you spend on your trip.
The Truth on Budget Travel
You might think that you're a budget traveler. But unless you're willing to eliminate a lot of comforts from your trip, prepare to spend a lot more than the daily average of $26 that backpackers often get by on.
Young backpackers often get away with this shoestring budget, but it usually involves staying in hostel dorms, eating at the cheapest restaurants or fast food places, taking public transit or walking, and only visiting free attractions.
Shangri-La has plenty of hostels available, like Tavern 47. Here, you can enjoy low-cost dorm lodging and a vibrant social environment, though amenities might be minimal.
Do You Identify as an Average Traveler?
As a couple or family looking for fun, you're likely to choose a mid-range hotel, dine at popular restaurants, and explore the major museums and attractions with entry fees. Visitors to Shangri-La typically prioritize the major attractions, museums, sights, and landmarks during their stay. After all, most activities do cost money. Therefore, it's sensible to expect your daily budget to be approximately $60 per person, per day.
Dreaming of a Stylish Getaway?
If you're looking for an all encompassing trip with every amenity and a higher level of service, then prepare yourself for a price tag closer to $117 per day. To stay in a nicer hotel, eat at award winning restaurants, splurge on extravagant excursions, and take taxis or private drivers to get around the destination, you'll need to be prepared for a more "luxury" set of prices. Also, higher-end tours are common with luxury travelers, such as Private Transfer from Shangri-la hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel - offered by Viator.
Accommodation Budget in Shangri-La
Shangri-La has a wide range of hotel prices. Luxury hotels come with higher price tags and better amenities, and prices are much steeper during peak season. On average, a room costs $ in the off-season and averages $ during peak season. Overall, you can expect prices from $ to $. Hostels, especially dorms, are cheaper alternatives. You can save by traveling in the low season, booking in advance, or looking for special offers.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Shangri-La for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $37 (¥269). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $18 (¥134) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Shangri-La? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Traveling during the shoulder or low season (instead of ) means you'll get lower prices on accommodations and have fewer crowds to deal with.
Transportation Budget in Shangri-La
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $10 (¥75) per person, per day, on local transportation in Shangri-La. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Shangri-La is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$10
¥75
The city is served by Diqing Shangri-La Airport with daily flights from from Kunming, Lhasa and Chongqing, as well as further connections to Chengdu and Guangzhou.
By bus, there are routes to Shangri-La from Daocheng, Lijiang, Dali, Kunming, Panzhihua, Deqin, as well as Lhasa, Chamdo, and Xiancheng.
By train, the nearest station is located in Lijiang. Most people fly into Kunming, then travel to Lijiang, and finally reach Shangri-La by long distance bus.
Once inside the city, the most popular way to navigate is by renting a mountain bike. Motorcycle rentals and public buses are also common.
Some of the standard hotel transfers and transport options include:
- Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel for $149 details
- Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge for $160 details
How much does it cost to go to Shangri-La? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Shangri-La will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Shangri-La
Cuisine often serves as a primary motivation for travel, so make sure to indulge in the local dishes.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in Shangri-La can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Shangri-La is $32 (¥233) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$32
¥233
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Shangri-La is around $32 (¥233) per person, with previous travelers spending from $14 to $58. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Shangri-La are as follows:
- Breakfast: $3 to $10
- Lunch: $5 to $13
- Dinner: $10 to $22
- Coffee: $3
- Fast Food or Street Food: $5
Shangri-La's population is composed largely of Tibetans together with many ethnic minorities of the region. This makes for a mix of traditional foods available throughout the city. Some of the local specialties include a kind of dough staple called Zanba, a preserved pork called Pipa Meat, Saimi Lamb, and Guoben Hot Pot which consists of ingredients like guoben, potatoes, cooked pork tripe, tofu, water-swollen rice sticks, cooked ham, black fungus, and Pipa pork. Yogurt is also common to the region as is yak butter tea, which can be served both sweet and salted. Zanba is usually eaten with the butter tea. Suolima is another local drink, a kind of Tibetan Liquor brewed with the highland barley. There are many options for dining near the Old Town plaza.
Countless hotels provide breakfast as part of your stay, but some will add it as an additional fee. The price and quality can change based on the hotel. Being informed ahead of time can aid in deciding whether to budget extra funds. You might enjoy the delightful buffet offered at the hotel, or perhaps a more economical option would be a nearby bakery or cafe.
Opt for a reusable water bottle to avoid buying drinks everywhere. It's beneficial for the earth as well.
When planning your tour, don't forget to check what meals are included. You might have to pay for some of your own food, which could add to your expenses.
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Shangri-La
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Shangri-La typically cost an average of $16 (¥116) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$16
¥116
Songzanlin Monastery, located at the top of a hill surrounded by Shangri-La, is one of the most impressive in the city. It has undergone many restorations with multiple temples, traditional artwork, prayers wheels, and beautiful scenic views of the city and surrounding mountains. Baiji Temple, also known as the 100 Chicken Temple, is another quaint spot located on a hill behind the old town. And then there is the Golden Temple at the center of Old Town, made up of three temple buildings and famous for housing the world's largest prayer drum.
The Pudacuo or Potatso National Park is another great place to see if you are looking to experience the natural wonders of Shangri-La. The first national park in mainland China, Padacuo mainly comprises of the Bitahai and the Shuduhu Lakes as well as the Militang Pastures. Being a part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the environment of the park is very well-preserved with mountains, marshes, lakes, forests, brooks, springs, and rare fauna and flora. All popular spots are connected by planked walkways, boats, and buses for the convenience of visitors.
Within the city of Shangri-La most visitors spend their days sight-seeing, frequenting the cobbled streets of Old Town, and exploring important temples and monasteries. However, there are many activities surrounding the city as well with a countryside perfect for ventures in hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and horseback riding. Napa Lake, in the grasslands to the west of Old Town, is a popular place for some of these activities, as are the surrounding mountains and the National Park mentioned above. Tours of the city, as well as outdoor adventure kind (via hiking and backpacking trips) are also available for those visitors seeking a more guided experience.
Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Shangri-La. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park for $209 details
- 1-Day Shangri-La Tour to Ganden Monastery, Nixi Pottery Village and Tibetan Town for $185 details
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian for $199 details
The road to Shangri-La, China
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.