Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Canberra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Canberra or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Canberra 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: Canberra or Shangri-La?
Canberra
There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."
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 Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCanberra $133Shangri-La $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Canberra is $133, 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 Canberra and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCanberra $82Shangri-La $19
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCanberra $164Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Canberra and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Canberra 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: Canberra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Canberra $24Shangri-La $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra
Also for Canberra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Canberra to Canberra Int Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $34
- Canberra Int'l Airport to Canberra - Arrival Private Transfer: $34
- Canberra Airport (CBR) to Canberra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Canberra city hotels to Eden Cruise Port: $82
- Private Transfer from Canberra Airport CBR to Eden Cruise Port : $82
- Guided Tour of Floriade Festival with Transfers: $117
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 Canberra or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Canberra 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 dayCanberra $34Shangri-La $19
Typical Food Prices in Canberra
For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch$16
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Canberra $17Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Canberra
For Canberra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Building + Architecture Tour | 10am Daily: $13
- Museum Highlights Tour | 1pm Daily: $13
- First Australians Tour | 3pm Daily: $13
- Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour: $14
- Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour in Canberra: $30
- LGBTQIA+ History Walking Tour: $33
- Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines: $39
- Women's History Walking Tour with Local Guide: $40
- Spies in the Capital: Women in Espionage Walking Tour: $40
- Best of Wildlife Tour: $88
- Best of Wildlife and Birds Tour: $98
- Beer, Wine, and Spirits Tasting Tour: $111
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 dayCanberra $16Shangri-La $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Canberra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:
-
Drinks at a Bar$9.08
Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra
Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Canberra Brewery and Beer Tour in 3 Hours: $98
- Canberra Brewery Winery and Distillery Tour: $112
- Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $121
- CanBEERa Explorer: Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $123
- From Winery, Distillery, & Tasting Tour with Lunch: $147
- Canberra Wine Tour: $158
- Full-Day Canberra Brewery, Wineries & Distillery tour /w lunch: $162
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Canberra and Shangri-La, we can see that Canberra is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Canberra is in Pacific 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 Canberra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Canberra 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 Canberra 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.