Which place is cheaper, Lijiang or Amman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Amman or Lijiang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Lijiang. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Amman or Lijiang?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $110Lijiang $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $110, while the average daily cost in Lijiang is $41. 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 Amman and Lijiang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49Lijiang $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98Lijiang $30
Compare Hotels in Amman and Lijiang
Looking for a hotel in Amman or Lijiang? 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: Amman Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24Lijiang $5.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transfers Queen Alia Airport or Amman from/to Petra: $242
- Wadi Rum transfer from - to Amman: $323
- Wadi Rum Private Transfer to or from Amman or Airport: $150
- Transfer from Amman or Airport to Petra with Optional Tour: $99
- Transfer Amman To/From Petra: $200
- Shuttle Transfer from Amman to Jerusalem: $79
- Queen Alia International Airport Transfers To Amman, Petra.: $257
- Queen Alia Airport and Amman Private Transfer /Multiple Destion: $41
- Queen Alia Airport Transfers: $43
- Queen Alia Airport Transfer : $21
- Private departure transfer from Amman to airport: $30
- Private Transfer: From Amman City to Airport: $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali : $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Lijiang?
Prices for flights to both Lijiang and Amman 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 dayAmman $34Lijiang $17
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Amman:Home resturant lunch and dinner: $37
- Private Day or Night Amman Sightseeing - Optional Cooking or Wine Tasting Tour : $51
- 3 course dinner with a sommelier: $56
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $71
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience : $109
- 3-Hours Guided Food Tour in Amman: $130
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience : $173
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32Lijiang $20
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Amman :Private day tour to Jerash and Ajloun: $81
- MT_ Private Driver - Tourist Transport and Business Services : $56
- Tour to the hidden Kingdom of the north: $300
- 01 Day Tour to Dead Sea From Amman: $220
- 1 Day Tour to Amman Jerash and Ajloun castle : $150
- 1 Day Tour: Amman and Jerash: $176
- 1-Day Tour: Amman and Dead Sea: $161
- 1-Night Private Overnight Madaba Independent Tour from Amman: $170
- 1-Night Private Overnight Wadi Mujib Independent Tour from Amman: $271
- 1Day Private spiritual Tour to Amman Madaba Baptism site Dead Sea: $150
- 2 Day Tour Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman: $300
- 2 Days Group Tour From Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba Dead sea: $264
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- 1-Day Lijiang tour with Lijiang Old Town,Black Dragon Pool,Baisha Village,Shuhe: $207
- 1-Day Old Town Tour in Lijiang: $166
- 1-Day Private Tour to Lijiang Highlights: $297
- 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
- 2-Days Self-Guided tour from Lijiang to Dali and overnight in Shaxi old town: $212
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang: $221
- Beautiful Country road Biking tour to Xinhua village Heqing start from Lijiang: $173
- Flexible Lijiang City Highlights Private Day Tour with Lunch: $208
- Lijiang Private Essentials Tour to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain including Cable Car: $258
- Lijiang Train Station Pick up and Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour : $170
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14Lijiang $7.86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Lijiang, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East and Lijiang 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 Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Lijiang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Lijiang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or Lijiang?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Lijiang. When comparing the sizes of Amman and Lijiang, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.