Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Ao Nang?
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 Ao Nang or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Shangri-La? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ao Nang or Shangri-La?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
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 Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Ao Nang Prices
Thailand PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $131Shangri-La $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $131, 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 Ao Nang and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $50Shangri-La $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $100Shangri-La $40
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang 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: Ao Nang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $62Shangri-La $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Kayaking at Klong Rud with Hotel Transfers: $27
- Ferry Transfer from Koh PhiPhi to Ao Nang: $28
- Klong Rud Kayaking with Hotel Transfer: $29
- Krabi: ATV Off-Road Adventure in Nature Paradise w/Transfer: $30
- Krabi: Ao Nang To or From Phi Phi By Fast Speedboat Transfer: $30
- Koh Lanta :Speedboat Transfer from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi: $30
- Krabi ATV Extreme Experience with Transfer and Adventure: $31
- Krabi: 4-Island Deluxe Speedboat Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $31
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $34
- Railay : Ferry Transfer from Railay to Ko Lanta: $34
- Krabi ATV Jungle Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $37
- Ferry Transfer from Aonang To Phuket (Rassada Pier): $39
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 Ao Nang or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Ao Nang 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 dayAo Nang $47Shangri-La $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Krabi: Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Local Chef: $37
- Authentic Thai Local Cooking Class: $38
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class Krabi Province: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Dinner & Snorkeling: $40
- Krabi: 7 Islands Sunset Tour by Longtail Boat & BBQ Dinner: $43
- Krabi: Hong Island Cruise with Thai Buffet Dinner: $45
- From Ao Nang Hong Island Longtail Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $49
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $51
- Krabi: Romantic Beachfront Sunset Dinner: $64
- Krabi: Ao Thalane Sunset Kayaking & BBQ Dinner: $110
- Local Krabi: Cooking Demo, Market Walk, Bamboo Raft & Fruit: $133
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shangri-La
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shangri-La.
- Tibetan Dinner Show with Bonfire: $53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $12Shangri-La $17
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Phi Phi : Splash & Explore – Half-Day Tour By longtail: $17
- Krabi: South Kayak Klong Root Kayaking Tour: $17
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $21
- Krabi: On The Hill Off-Road ATV Adventure 30 Minute: $22
- Krabi: 4 Island Snorkeling Tour: $24
- From Krabi: Blue Dragon Cabaret Ticket Dazzling Night: $24
- Krabi: 4 Islands One-Day Premium Speedboat Tour lunch: $25
- FERRY TICKET PHUKET - AONANG - PHIPHI: $25
- Krabi: Iconic 4 Islands Day Tour by Longtail Boat with Lunch: $27
- Ao Nang Kayak Adventure: Explore the Stunning Flooded Forest: $27
- Krabi: Saitai Mountain Tail ATV Adventure: $27
- Krabi: Jurassic Trails ATV Ride & Kayaking Tour: $27
Tours and Activities in Shangri-La
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shangri-La are as follows:
- 1 Day Shangri La Balagezong Private Tour: $290
- 1 Day Shangri-La Songzanlin and Potatso National Park Tour: $280
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- 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
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $240
- Shangri-La Day Tour Songzanlin Monastery and Napa Sea: $67
- Pudacuo National Park & Songzanlin Tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $17Shangri-La $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Ao Nang
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ao Nang:
- K-Bunk Pub Crawl - The Best Bars in Ao Nang in One Night!: $1.20
- Krabi: Summer Club Pub Crawl with Fire Show: $15
- Krabi Pub Crawl - Join Nomads For The Best Night in Ao Nang!: $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Shangri-La, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang 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 Ao Nang 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.