Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Kamakura?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kamakura or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kamakura or Shangri-La? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Kamakura or Shangri-La?
Kamakura
An old city center of medieval Japan, Kamakura sits today on the seaside just south of Tokyo. Due to its early beginnings, the city is dotted with Buddhist Zen temples and Shinto shrines. It has become a prominent resort town drawing visitors with its many historic landmarks as well as nearby beaches.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKamakura $104Shangri-La $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Kamakura is $104, 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 Kamakura and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKamakura $75Shangri-La $19
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKamakura $150Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Kamakura and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Kamakura 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: Kamakura Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kamakura $15Shangri-La $10
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 Kamakura or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Kamakura 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 dayKamakura $20Shangri-La $19
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kamakura $5.59Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Kamakura
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kamakura are as follows:
- Audio Guide Tour of Historic Sites around Kamakura Station: $6.32
- Kita-Kamakura Audio Guide Tour: Discovering Zen Serenity: $6.32
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $25
- Tour on the Works of Ninshô in French: $28
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $37
- Kamakura; First Samurai Capital walking tour: $38
- Half-Day Tour to Seven Gods of Fortune in Kamakura and Enoshima: $39
- Kamakura Rickshaw Tour: $39
- Private Tour from North Kamakura Temples & Shrine: $40
- Half day Walking tour & Japanese sweets: $44
- Private History and Heritage Tour by Rickshaw: $51
- From Tokyo: Kamakura and Enoshima 1-Day Bus Tour: $57
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 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
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKamakura $13Shangri-La $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kamakura and Shangri-La, we can see that Kamakura 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 Kamakura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kamakura 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 Kamakura 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.