Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Delhi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Delhi or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Delhi or Shangri-La, 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: Delhi or Shangri-La?
Delhi
Delhi is the largest city in northern India and is officially the country's capital. The city has a population of 11 million with the metropolitan population reaching over 16 million. The city is similar in landscape to the rest of its surrounding area. It is very flat with the river Yamuna flowing on the eastern side of the city. The Aravalii Hills are in the western portion of the city. The city's history dates back to the 6th century BC and it has served as a capital for various kingdoms and empires.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in India, The Best Photography Tours in India, 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 dayDelhi $44Shangri-La $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Delhi is $44, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $47. 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 Delhi and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDelhi $23Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDelhi $46Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Delhi and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Delhi 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: Delhi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Delhi $5.25Shangri-La $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.12
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Taxi to Airport$1.90
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Subway$0.38
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Uber Cab$0.95
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Delhi Metro Smart Card$1.79
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Auto-rickshaw$1.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
- Taj Mahal Sunrise All Inclusive Tour with Transfers : $7.00
- Private Guided Delhi Shopping Tour with Transfers: $8.99
- From Jaipur Private Full Day Trip with Private Transfers: $10
- Private Transfer Delhi Hotel to Airport: $14
- Delhi Private Airport Transfer: $16
- Airport transfer in Delhi (Per Way by Sedan, SUV and Tempo) : $16
- Humayun's Tomb Skip-the-Line E-tickets & guide Delhi transfers: $18
- Private Transfer from Delhi Airport to Hotel: $20
- Delhi - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $20
- Delhi Airport to hotel private transfer: $21
- Private Transfer From Delhi Hotel to Airport: $24
- Private Arrival and Transfer Airport to Delhi Hotel by Car: $27
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 Delhi or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Delhi 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 dayDelhi $12Shangri-La $19
Typical Food Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Delhi:
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McDonalds$3.49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.
- Old Delhi Food Tour with local, A must for Indian culinary lover!: $21
- Food Tour in Delhi: $31
- Online: Indian Food Cooking Class: $33
- Old Delhi Heritage Sightseeing | Walking Tour | Street Food Tour: $34
- Cooking Demo + Lunch/Dinner and interaction with an Indian family @ Chez Anjali: $35
- Night Food Tour of Beyond the Tourist Traps: $36
- Evening Food Tour: $40
- Veg and Non veg : Private Cooking Class in Delhi: $43
- Half Day Old Delhi Street Food Tour With Hotel Round Transfer : $45
- Delhi by Evening Tour by Private Air-Condition vehicle includes Dinner. : $45
- Delhi Kabul Cooking Class: $47
- Private Half-Day Old Delhi Traditional Food Tour : $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Delhi $13Shangri-La $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Delhi
Here are a few typical costs in Delhi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Red Fort$10
Tours and Activities in Delhi
Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Skip-The-Line Sunrise Taj Mahal & Agra Tour with Multi-Options: $2.50
- All Inclusive Taj Mahal Private Tour (by Car) - from Delhi: $2.85
- Same Day Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Baby Taj Tour From Delhi by Car: $3.01
- Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour by AC Car From Delhi: $3.25
- Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi by Car - All Inclusive: $3.25
- Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi By Car: $3.50
- Taj Mahal & Agra Private Day Tour from Delhi with 5* Lunch: $3.50
- Taj Mahal Day Tour with Mughal Experiance From Delhi: $3.75
- Taj Mahal And Agra Tour From Delhi by Car- Including Lunch : $3.75
- Private Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi With Entrance & Lunch: $3.75
- Taj Mahal Sunrise & Sunset Garden Tour From Delhi : $4.00
- Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi Lunch at 5 Star Hotel: $4.25
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 dayDelhi $8.63Shangri-La $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Delhi
Also in Delhi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $28
When comparing the travel costs between Delhi 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 Delhi 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.