Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Doha or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Shangri-La can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Shangri-La?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $245Shangri-La $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $65. 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 Doha and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $120Shangri-La $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $240Shangri-La $40
Compare Hotels in Doha and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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: Doha Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Shangri-La $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Hamad DOH Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $17
- Private Car Transfer from Doha City: $20
- Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $25
- Doha Airport HIA to Hotel Transfer by Standard Vehicle One Way: $28
- Doha Airport Transfers Taxi: $30
- Doha Airport Chauffeur Transfer One Way: $35
- From North of Qatar Guided Tour with Transfers: $35
- Airport Transfer TO or FROM Hammad International Airport: $39
- Doha to Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Private Doha Airport Transfer | Hamad Airport (DOH): $40
- Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Qatar Doha - Private Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha Port: $50
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 Doha or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Doha 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 dayDoha $106Shangri-La $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Traditional Dhow Cruise Dinner with BBQ Buffet & Transfers: $22
- Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $23
- Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
- Traditional Arabian Dhow Cruise with Sunset and Skyline Dinner: $40
- Moonlight on Marina Traditional Dhow Cruise With Optional Dinner: $42
- Traditional Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner on board: $43
- Traditional Arabic Food Tour @ Souq Waqif with Doha Skyline Views: $43
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $47
- Private Souk Waqif Tour with Lunch/Dinner: $85
- Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
- Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride: $149
- 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shangri-La
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shangri-La.
- Tibetan Dinner Show with Bonfire: $53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Shangri-La $17
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dhow Boat Cruise with Sun Set at Al Safliya Island: $20
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $23
- Doha Complete Experience: City Tour,Desert & InlandSea in One Day: $28
- Doha 4 Hours City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $29
- Doha City Sightseeing Tour To All Main Attractions: $29
- Guided City Tour with Airport and Hotel Pickup: $29
- Doha Desert Safari Adventure CamelRide, DuneBashing & Inland Sea: $29
- Half Day Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Inland Sea Tour: $29
- Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
- Doha Private City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $30
- Moonlight on The Gulf A Doha Dhow Cruise Adventure: $30
- Doha Adventure Sandbord Buggy Sunset Sunrise stargazing: $35
Tours and Activities in Shangri-La
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shangri-La are as follows:
- Shangri-La Day Tour Songzanlin Monastery and Napa Sea: $67
- Pudacuo National Park & Songzanlin Tour: $150
- 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
- 2 day Shangri La Adventure Tour from Lijiang: $200
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $240
- 1 Day Shangri-La Songzanlin and Potatso National Park Tour: $280
- 1 Day Shangri La Balagezong Private Tour: $290
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Shangri-La $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Shangri-La, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha 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 Doha 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.