Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Jaipur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaipur 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 Jaipur 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: Jaipur or Shangri-La?
Jaipur
Jaipur, India, famously known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan and is often a highlight for many travelers to the area. Dating back to the eighteenth century, it is part of the Indian Golden Triangle which also includes Delhi and Agra. It's also a stopping off point for travelers venturing into the desert cities of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. The city has a population of about 6.66 million people, making it the largest city in the state of Rajasthan and the tenth largest city in the country.
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 Budget Tours to India, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New Delhi, 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 dayJaipur $19Shangri-La $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaipur is $19, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $46. 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 Jaipur and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaipur $12Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaipur $24Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Jaipur and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Jaipur 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: Jaipur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaipur $1.54Shangri-La $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaipur
Also for Jaipur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Jaipur Airport JAI To Jaipur Hotels: $8.99
- Private Jaipur Arrival Transfer - Airport to Hotel/Accommodation: $9.21
- Private Airport Transfer :- From Jaipur International Airport to Hotel: $10
- Private Train Station Transfer :- From Jaipur Train Station to Hotel: $10
- One-Way Transfer Airport to Hotel: $12
- Jaipur/Delhi/Agra: Private One-Way Transfers: $12
- Jaipur Airport & Hotel Transfers/Pickup & Drop: $13
- Jaipur Airport Transfer: $14
- Private Transfer From Jaipur to Agra including Fatehpur Sikri: $15
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Jaipur International Airport: $20
- Private Arrival Transfer: Jaipur International Airport to Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer from Jaipur to Ajmer: $21
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 Jaipur or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Jaipur 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 dayJaipur $4.75Shangri-La $19
Typical Food Prices in Jaipur
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaipur:
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Dinner$6.58
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Soda$0.12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaipur
For Jaipur, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Jaipur Street food tour: $4.59
- Indian Cooking Class with Local Family in Jaipur: $12
- Culture walking and food tour with guide in Jaipur.: $14
- Dinner With Traditional Rajput Family (Its Not Just Only A Cooking Class) : $16
- cooking class demo with dinner: $20
- Famous Masala Chowk Food Tour: $20
- Cooking class demo with dinner : $21
- Jaipur Full Day Tour with local family dinner: $21
- Traditional Dinner with Family including Transfers: $22
- Taste of Jaipur (2 Hour Guided Street Food Tour with Local): $24
- History Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $25
- Food Tour in Jaipur: $25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaipur $3.81Shangri-La $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaipur
For Jaipur, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Palace Entry for Two$1.20
Tours and Activities in Jaipur
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaipur.
- All Inclusive Full Day Guided Jaipur City Tour: $4.50
- Agra Sunrise Sightseeing with Fatehpur Sikri: All Inclusive: $5.00
- Private Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour from Jaipur by Car: $5.00
- From Half-Day City Tour with Guide: $5.88
- Private Shopping Tour by Tuk Tuk: $6.00
- Private Full Day Jaipur Sightseeing Tour By Tuk Tuk: $6.00
- Private Shopping City Tour by Tuk Tuk: $6.00
- Private Full Day Jaipur Sightseeing Tour By Tuk-Tuk: $6.00
- From Private Half-Day City Tour with Guide: $6.50
- Full day Jaipur sightseeing tour by tuk tuk.: $6.52
- Jaipur customized Half Day Tour: $6.55
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour by tuk tuk: $6.71
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 City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- 1 day Shangri-La Highlights Mini Private Tour: $117
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaipur $2.72Shangri-La $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Jaipur
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Jaipur:
- Pub Crawl Jaipur: $32
- Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $39
- Pub Crawl Jaipur: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaipur and Shangri-La, we can see that Shangri-La is more expensive. And not only is Jaipur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jaipur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaipur 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 Shangri-La would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shangri-La than you might in Jaipur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaipur 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.