Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Harbin?
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 Harbin 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 Harbin and Shangri-La can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Harbin or Shangri-La?
Harbin
Harbin, China is the northernmost major city in the country, with a population of over 10 million. Harbin was founded in 1897 by Russia, which has resulted in a lot of Russian influence throughout the city and many Russian citizens. The city is most famous for their annual International Snow and Ice Festival, a two-month-long festival running from January through February of each 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 2-Week Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in China.
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Harbin Prices
China PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHarbin $69Shangri-La $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Harbin is $69, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $64. 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 Harbin and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHarbin $22Shangri-La $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHarbin $44Shangri-La $40
Compare Hotels in Harbin and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Harbin 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: Harbin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Harbin $1.60Shangri-La $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Harbin Ice and Snow World Transfer with Hotel Pickup: $28
- Harbin Airport(HRB) Private Arrival Transfer: Meet&Greet Service: $36
- Harbin Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $55
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $55
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Harbin Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $88
- Harbin Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
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 Harbin or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Harbin 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 dayHarbin $26Shangri-La $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner Show with Costumes and Performances: $29
- Central Street, Baluoke Village, and Dinner Tour: $90
- Harbin Cultural Tour at Zhongyang Dajie to Baluoke with Dinner: $150
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.Harbin $56Shangri-La $17
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harbin Private Day Tour to Volga Manor: $11
- Harbin Ice and Snow World Ticket Booking: $66
- Admission Ticket to Ice and Snow World: $75
- 1-day Harbin Private Car Charter Service: Custom Downtown Tour: $87
- Harbi Hongmen Imperial Banquet Entry Ticket: $87
- Harbin Ice Lantern Show and Center Street Tour: $150
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- Harbin Private Day Tour to Yabuli ski Resort: $170
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Harbin City Walking Sightseeing: $198
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $199
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 Balagezong Private Tour: $290
- 1 Day Shangri-La Songzanlin and Potatso National Park Tour: $280
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- 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
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $240
- Shangri-La Day Tour Songzanlin Monastery and Napa Sea: $67
- Pudacuo National Park & Songzanlin Tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHarbin $8.38Shangri-La $13
When comparing the travel costs between Harbin and Shangri-La, we can see that Harbin 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 Harbin 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.