A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bangalore vs. Shangri-La for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bangalore 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 Bangalore and Shangri-La can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bangalore or Shangri-La?

Bangalore

Bangalore is the capital city of the state of Karnataka, in India. It's also India's third largest city with a population of about 8.5 million. It's considered one of the most liveable cities in the country and was historically known for its many gardens and lush green spaces. Today those areas are all but gone, having given way to the growing population and sprawling metropolises. Bangalore is also the information technology hub of the country and is sometimes referred to as India's Silicon Valley.

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 Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Bangalore?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bangalore is $44, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $46. 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 Bangalore and Shangri-La in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bangalore $20
    Shangri-La $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bangalore $40
    Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Bangalore and Shangri-La

Looking for a hotel in Bangalore 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.

Hotels in Bangalore


Hotels in Shangri-La


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bangalore $9.70
    Shangri-La $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangalore

Also for Bangalore, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $16
  • Bangalore airport to Hotel Transfer: $18
  • Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $28
  • Private Departure Transfer: Bangalore Hotels to Bengaluru International Airport: $45
  • One-Way Private City Transfer Mysore & Bangalore: $50
  • Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR) to Bengaluru City -RoundTrip Private Transfer: $79
  • From Mysore guided day tour with transfers: $167

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 Bangalore or Shangri-La?

Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Bangalore 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bangalore $13
    Shangri-La $19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangalore

For Bangalore, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Family: $32
  • Private Cooking Demonstration in a Bangalore Home: $45
  • Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $51
  • Indian Cooking Class in Bangalore with an Award Winning Chef: $54
  • Discover Bangalore's Cuisine: Private Half-Day Cooking Experience: $60
  • Private In-Home Cooking Demonstration and Meal in Bangalore: $68
  • Private Cooking Dining Experience in Bengaluru: $74
  • Private Indian Cooking Class and Meal in Bangalore Home: $74
  • 3-Hour Private Cooking Lesson and Meal in a Bangalore Home: $74

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bangalore $11
    Shangri-La $16

Tours and Activities in Bangalore

For Bangalore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Bangalore Walking Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Bangalore Night Walking Tour: $13
  • Bangalore Heritage and Cultural Walking Tour: $14
  • Cubbon Park Heritage Walk: A self-guided tour of Bangalore's unique history: $15
  • Bangalore Night Walking Tour (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
  • Walk on Tales of Bangalore (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
  • Walk of Divinity Bangalore (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
  • Food Walk Tour Bangalore: $25
  • Bangalore Private Tour: $35
  • Hire a guide for full day Bangalore city tour with own transport: $39
  • See Bangalore through my eyes (Cultural / Historical / Walking Tour): $42
  • Basavanagudi Walking Tour with Bull Temple: $48

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 City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
  • 1 day Shangri-La Highlights Mini Private 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
  • Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $199

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bangalore $9.07
    Shangri-La $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Bangalore

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bangalore:

  • Pub Crawl Bangalore (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $34
  • Pub Crawl in Bengaluru - A lovely private evening experience with a local: $39


When comparing the travel costs between Bangalore and Shangri-La, we can see that Shangri-La is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangalore Expensive? and Is Shangri-La Expensive?.


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