Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Koh Phi Phi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Phi Phi or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Phi Phi 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: Koh Phi Phi or Shangri-La?
Koh Phi Phi
The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand, 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 dayKoh Phi Phi $72Shangri-La $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Phi Phi is $72, 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 Koh Phi Phi and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Phi Phi $40Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Phi Phi $80Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Koh Phi Phi and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Koh Phi Phi 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: Koh Phi Phi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Phi Phi $6.89Shangri-La $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:
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Ferry to Maya Beach (for 2)$15
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Longboat Taxi$2.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Phi Phi
Also for Koh Phi Phi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket VIP Speed Boat Transfer: $22
- Speedboat Transfer Phi Phi Tonsai to Phuket with Dropoff Service: $25
- Superfast Transfer from Koh Phi Phi to Krabi by Arisa Speed Boat: $28
- One-Way Departure Transfer from Phi Phi Island (Speedboat) to Phuket Airport : $52
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 Koh Phi Phi or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Koh Phi Phi 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 dayKoh Phi Phi $11Shangri-La $19
Typical Food Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:
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Crepe$1.64
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Sit Down Lunch$9.27
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Casual Lunch$5.73
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Coconut Donut$0.27
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Lunch at Mexican Restaurant (for 2)$11
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Sit Down Dinner$14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Phi Phi $45Shangri-La $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Koh Phi Phi
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Phi Phi.
- Ferry from Phi Phi Islands to Phuket with Dropoff Service by Royal Jet Cruiser: $13
- Phuket Trick Eye 3D Museum Admission Ticket: $14
- Phi Phi Island To Phuket By Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Phi Phi Island Half Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $18
- Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $20
- Phi Phi Islands Sunset Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $21
- Phi Phi 7 Islands Full-Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $27
- Wonderful Phi Phi Islands Highlights Tour: $50
- PHI PHI ISLAND - Sunrise Trip From Phi Phi Don By Phi Phi Local Tour: $53
- Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $57
- Half Day & Sunset Phi Phi Island Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $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 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 dayKoh Phi Phi $5.66Shangri-La $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:
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Mojito Bucket$14
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Banana Daiquiri$5.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Phi Phi and Shangri-La, we can see that Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi 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.