Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Christchurch?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Christchurch or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Christchurch 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: Christchurch or Shangri-La?
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, right beside the Canterbury Plains. Most people begin their South Island travels here. The city itself can be fascinating to explore so it is worth allowing yourself several days in town as an introduction to the region.
The River Avon flows through the city center, twisting through the old buildings. Christchurch is referred to in New Zealand as the Garden City and it is easy to see why. It's quite a nice city with trees spread throughout. The economy is centered around international tourism as well as foreign education. There is a high Asian student population here, giving the city a diverse feel.
Christchurch's climate is temperate and the city receives moderate rainfall. In January average high temperatures are around 73 degrees Fahrenheit with averages around 52 degrees Fahrenheit in July. There is a sea breeze during the summer months that keep temperatures pleasant. Temperatures can drop below freezing at night during the winter months. Snow may also fall several times a year.
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 G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland, 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 dayChristchurch $102Shangri-La $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Christchurch is $102, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $48. 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 Christchurch and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChristchurch $52Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChristchurch $104Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Christchurch and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Christchurch 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: Christchurch Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Christchurch $15Shangri-La $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Christchurch
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Christchurch:
- Private Transfer from Christchurch City to Lyttelton Cruise Port: $30
- Christchurch Airport(CHC) to Christchurch-Arrival PrivateTransfer: $32
- Christchurch to Christchurch Airport(CHC)- Departure Transfer: $32
- Private Transfer from Christchurch Airport CHC to Lyttelton Port: $39
- Christchurch Airport to City Transfer : $53
- Private Transfer from Christchurch Airport (CHC) to Akaroa Port: $55
- Christchurch Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Christchurch: $60
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport CHC to Christchurch in Business Car: $67
- Executive Sedan Airport Transfer(Pickup Airport to Hotel/Residence) Christchurch: $75
- Departure Private Transfers from Christchurch to Airport CHC in Luxury Van: $93
- Christchurch Airport Transfers : Airport CHC to Christchurch in Luxury Car: $109
- Christchurch Airport (CHC): Transfer to Christchurch hotels: $133
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:
- Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
- Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel : $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Christchurch or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Christchurch 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 dayChristchurch $33Shangri-La $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Christchurch $19Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Christchurch
Here are a few actual costs in Christchurch for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Hop-On Hop-Off Tour by Vintage Tram: $22
- Christchurch Gondola Ride Ticket: $26
- International Antarctic Centre General Admission Ticket: $40
- Christchurch International Antarctic Centre Entry Tickets: $42
- Christchurch Gondola and Tram City Tour Combo: $47
- Gondola Ticket and Punt Ride on the Avon River: $49
- Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour with optional International Antarctic Center Admission: $56
- Cruise Ship Day Christchurch Hop On Hop Off Tour: $62
- Tram, Punt and Gondola Ride Combo Ticket: $70
- Christchurch Sightseeing Pass: $71
- Waipara Wine Trail Afternoon Tour from Christchurch: $84
- Christchurch City Top Spots Half Day Tour(Small Group 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 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
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChristchurch $12Shangri-La $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Christchurch
Also in Christchurch, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- From Full-Day Wine Tour with Lunch: $104
- All-Inclusive Waipara Region Wine Tour from Christchurch: $109
- From Guided Local Wine Tours in Waipara: $123
- Lyttelton Shore Excursion - City Highlights & Waipara Wine Tour : $137
- Akaroa Craft Distillery HeliGin Experience: $551
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Christchurch and Shangri-La, we can see that Christchurch is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Christchurch 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 Christchurch would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Christchurch 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 Christchurch 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.