Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Shangri-La can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Shangri-La?
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
Shangri-La
The original Shangri-La existed in the fictional world of James Hilton's novel "The Lost Horizon." It was a hidden paradise, a place so beautiful that it couldn't possibly exist on earth. The Shangri-La that exists in Yunnan, China today was renamed from its former title Zhongdian in 2001 in order to associate the place with the mystical allure created in Hilton's novel. Visitors come to admire the traditional monasteries and temples set against a backdrop of mountain preserves and pristine lakes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Shangri-La $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $64. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Abu Dhabi and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Shangri-La $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Shangri-La $40
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Shangri-La? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Shangri-La $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Car Rental$31
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Taxi to Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Transfer To Abu Dhabi Airport: $28
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $30
- Transfer Abu Dhabi City Center to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $31
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Cruise Port to Abu Dhabi Hotels: $37
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Port: $37
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Cruise Port to Dubai hotels: $38
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
- Qasr al Watan Tour with Optional Private Transfers: $50
- Guided Full-Day Tour of Abu Dhabi's Top Landmarks with Transfers: $54
- Teams Lab Phenomena Experience in Abu Dhabi with Transfers option: $56
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To Abu Dhabi: $56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:
- Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Abu Dhabi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAbu Dhabi $78Shangri-La $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Red Dunes 4x4 Pick Drop Dinner Shows: $43
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows & BBQ Buffet Dinner: $50
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Camel Ride and Live Shows: $56
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $58
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $60
- Lunch Or Dinner at Emirates Palace - Ultimate Luxury Experience: $64
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner: $65
- Evening Desert Safari Camel Ride Dinner Live Shows in Abu Dhabi: $69
- Desert Safari, Camel Ride, Live Shows, and BBQ Dinner: $69
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari: BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Shows: $71
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner: $71
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and Shows: $73
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Shangri-La $17
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Non prime: $15
- Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket: $16
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Tickets: $16
- Skip the Line Ticket to Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Entrance Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Ticket Pass in Abu Dhabi’s Presidential Palace: $19
- Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket: $20
- Zayed National Museum Abu Dhabi - Ticket: $22
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $22
- Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum Entry Ticket with Optional Transportation: $23
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $24
Tours and Activities in Shangri-La
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shangri-La are as follows:
- Shangri-La Day Tour Songzanlin Monastery and Napa Sea: $67
- Tibetan Village Scenic E-Bike Tour: $117
- 1-Day Shangri-La Private Tour: Potatso National Park and Baiji Temple: $169
- 1-Day Shangri-La Tour to Ganden Monastery, Nixi Pottery Village and Tibetan Town: $185
- 1-Day Shangri-La tour with Ganden Monastery, Napahai Lake and Tibetan Town: $190
- 2 day Shangri La Adventure Tour from Lijiang: $200
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $240
- 1 Day Shangri-La Songzanlin and Potatso National Park Tour: $280
- 1 Day Shangri La Balagezong Private Tour: $290
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Shangri-La $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Shangri-La, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Shangri-La is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Shangri-La would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shangri-La and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Shangri-La.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Shangri-La Expensive?.
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.