Which place is cheaper, Lhasa or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Aqaba or Lhasa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Lhasa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Aqaba or Lhasa?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $127Lhasa $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $127, while the average daily cost in Lhasa is $72. 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 Aqaba and Lhasa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Lhasa $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Lhasa $80
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Lhasa
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Lhasa? 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: Aqaba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Lhasa $2.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Wadi Rum to Petra Private Transfer: $80
- Wadi Rum to Aqaba Port Private Transfer: $80
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Wadi rum: $120
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Amman Airport: $101
- Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
- Snorkeling in The Red Sea With Equipment And Free Transfer: $155
- Private Transfers Aqaba to Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman & vice versa: $47
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $27
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Sheikh Hussein Border or vice versa: $193
- Private Transfer from Wadi Rum to Aqaba Airport: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- [Airport Transfer] Lhasa Kunga Airport ⇔ Lhasa City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Lhasa?
Prices for flights to both Lhasa and Aqaba 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 dayAqaba $42Lhasa $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Suhaila (connecting through cooking): $50
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $73
- 4 hour desert jeep tour with overnight in beduin camp including dinner&breakfast: $85
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight + Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $87
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $105
- Wadi Rum New Year Eve Party (Jeep Tour + Dinner + Music + Fireworks + Overnight): $112
- From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Lhasa $17
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full-Day Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum without Overnight Stay: $85
- Full-Day Jeep Tour with Overnight: $113
- Wadi Rum Day Tour & Starlight Cave & Traditions Food: $169
- Wadi Rum: Premium 4WD Desert Safari Tour: $35
- 03 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $47
- 05 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $68
- 06 Hours Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum : $84
- 2 Days & 1 Night | Jeep & Hike Tour in Wadi Rum Desert | Magic Bedouin Star: $258
- 2 Days 1 Night in Wadi Rum Jeep Tour: $204
- 2 Days Guided Hiking Tour To Wadi Rum Jebal Al Hash: $103
- 2 Days private tour Petra, Wadi Rum (overnight) from Amman: $682
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tibet 5-day Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour: $65
- 4 Days Best of Lhasa Tour - Discover the Holy City: $591
- 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $644
- 5 Days Lhasa and Ganden Monastery Small Group Tour: $695
- 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $760
- Private Full-Day Tour w/ Lunch: $800
- 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
- 8 Days Central Tibet and Namtso Small Group Tour: $1,113
- Tibet Overland Tour - 08 Days: $1,432
- 7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Small Group Tour: $1,550
- 15 Days Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar Small Group Tour: $2,402
- 15-Day Small Group Sightseeing Tour from Lhasa to Majestic: $2,495
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Lhasa $7.04
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Lhasa, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Lhasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Lhasa 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 Lhasa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lhasa 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 Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba than you might in Lhasa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Lhasa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Lhasa?
Lhasa has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Aqaba. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Lhasa, 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.