Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Hiroshima?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Hiroshima 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 Hiroshima 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: Hiroshima or Shangri-La?
Hiroshima
Hiroshima is positioned on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea and is an industrial city made up of many zigzagging rivers and wide boulevard streets. Today Hiroshima is a modern and vibrant city with great food and an energetic nightlife, but the image that remains in most visitor's minds is the Hiroshima of 1945 when it became the horrific sight of the first atomic bomb attack. Hiroshima shares the colorful neon atmosphere of other major Japanese cities and its hard to recognize the city immortalized all those years ago on that fateful day.
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 Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
-
Hiroshima Prices
Japan PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHiroshima $126Shangri-La $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Hiroshima is $126, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $61. 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 Hiroshima and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHiroshima $67Shangri-La $19
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHiroshima $134Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Hiroshima and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Hiroshima 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: Hiroshima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hiroshima $10Shangri-La $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hiroshima
Also for Hiroshima, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Arrival Transfer : Hiroshima Airport to Hiroshima City: $128
- Shared Departure Transfer : Hiroshima City to Hiroshima Airport: $128
- Private Transfer from Hiroshima Port to Hiroshima Airport (HIJ): $164
- Private Transfer from Hiroshima Airport (HIJ) to Hiroshima Port: $182
- Hiroshima City: Private Transfer to/from Hiroshima Airport: $189
- Iwakuni Airport to/from Hiroshima City Private Transfer: $244
- Private Arrival Transfer From Hiroshima International Airport to Hiroshima City: $272
- Private Transfer Hiroshima Airport: $292
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 Hiroshima or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Hiroshima 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 dayHiroshima $52Shangri-La $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hiroshima
For Hiroshima, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hiroshima Night Walk & Traditional Okonomiyaki Dinner Tour: $52
- Okonomiyaki Cooking Class with a Local Chef: $59
- Food and Culture Guided Walking Tour with Dinner: $82
- Dinner Cruise on HANAIKADA (Raft-Type Boat) with Scenic View of Miyajima: $100
- Bar Hopping Food Tour: $103
- Hiroshima Bar Hopping Food Tour: $105
- Private Japanese Cooking Class in Hiroshima with Machiko's Family: $108
- Hiroshima Peace Bicycle Tour and Okonomiyaki Dinner: $113
- Best of Hiroshima Food Tour: $182
- Best of Hiroshima Food Tour: $221
- Private Nature, History, and Food Tour: $629
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hiroshima $5.58Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Hiroshima
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hiroshima.
- Hiroshima:Visit Tourist Pass(1, 2, 3day and 3day middlearea): $6.76
- LAGOON Nightclub Admission Ticket(For Foreign): $6.76
- Hiroshima Kagura Performance Entry Ticket: $12
- HIROSHIMA ORIZURU TOWER Admission Ticket: $16
- Abacus & Calligraphy Experience Near Hiroshima Peace Park: $20
- Abacus & Calligraphy Experience Near Hiroshima Peace Park: $21
- Hiroshima and Peace Park Private guided Tour: $22
- Peace Memorial Park Guided Walking Tour: $22
- Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome Tour: $23
- Hiroshima Peace Walking Tour with Expert Guide: $23
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: A Guided Tour: $24
- Kumano Brush Factory Tour and Brush-Making Experience: $27
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 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
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $240
- Shangri-La Day Tour Songzanlin Monastery and Napa Sea: $67
- Tibetan Village Scenic E-Bike Tour: $117
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHiroshima $12Shangri-La $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Hiroshima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Hiroshima:
- Visit behind the Scenes: Hiroshima Saijo Sake Brewery Tour: $124
- Half-Day Saijo Tour Sake Tasting and Brewery Tour in Hiroshima: $131
- Private Goma Fire Ritual, Lunch & Sake Brewery Visits : $200
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hiroshima and Shangri-La, we can see that Hiroshima is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Hiroshima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hiroshima 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 Hiroshima 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.