Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Krabi?
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 Krabi 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 Krabi and Shangri-La can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or Shangri-La?
Krabi
Krabi is both a large town and region in southern Thailand. While the region is covered in beaches, if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi (where you'll find famous places such as Railay, Ao Nang, Haad Yao, and plenty of others). Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies, and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience. There's a good chance you'll be passing through on your way to one of the famous beaches, so take advantage of your brief time here.
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 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Krabi Prices
Thailand PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $70Shangri-La $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $70, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $65. 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 Krabi and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $39Shangri-La $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $78Shangri-La $40
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Krabi 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: Krabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krabi $4.12Shangri-La $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.88
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$2.96
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.37
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Longboat Taxi from Town$5.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Krabi International Airport Arrival Shared Transfer To Ao Nang: $12
- Krabi International Airport Departure Shared Transfer from Aonang: $12
- Private Krabi One-Way Transfer from Ao Nang or Ao Nam Mao: $12
- Krabi Airport (KBV) Private Transfer: $13
- Private One-Way Van Transfer from Ao Nang or Ao Nam Mao in Krabi: $13
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $15
- One-Way Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phi Phi: $15
- Ferry Transfer To or From Phi Phi Don Island: $15
- Krabi International Airport(KBV) Private Transfers: $16
- Private Transfer Krabi Airport and Ao Nang Area: $16
- Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta Shared Van Transfer: $17
- Krabi to Khao Lak Transfer by AC Van: $18
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 Krabi or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Krabi 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 dayKrabi $23Shangri-La $35
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$7.40
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Drinks on the Beach$7.11
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$18
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$33
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Mango Shake$1.48
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Pad Thai$2.96
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Fruit from the Market$1.78
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Pancakes$2.96
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Coffee & Cake$2.22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Snorkeling: $33
- 7 Islands Sunset & Plankton Swim with BBQ Dinner: $35
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $36
- Snorkeling and Sunset to Krabi 7 Islands by Longtail Boat + Buffet BBQ Dinner: $39
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $39
- Krabi Best of 7 islands Adventure Tour with Beachside BBQ Dinner: $42
- Krabi Thai Cooking School Small-Group Class with Hotel Transfer: $42
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $43
- Ya Thai Cooking Class with Hotel Transfer in Ao Nang: $43
- Krabi Thai Cooking Class: $43
- Ya Thai Cooking Class in Krabi with Recipe Book: $43
- Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night: $43
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.Krabi $11Shangri-La $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$9.77
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Thai Massages (for Two)$24
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Bikini & Sarong$18
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$13
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$7.40
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$56
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- DIY tour - Finest selection of Krabi Hidden Gems: $7.79
- Klong Root Kayaking Tour with Swim Stop: $16
- Ao Nang Muay Thai Training with Experienced Fighters in Krabi: $17
- Koh Poda Krabi Half Day: 3-Island Boat Tour with Snorkeling: $20
- Tour 4 Islands At Aonang: $20
- Blue Dragon Cabaret Show Tickets Krabi: $21
- Popular 4 Islands Tour By Classic Longtail Boat From Krabi: $22
- Khlong Rud Early Morning Kayaking Tour: $22
- Klong Root Kayaking and Swimming with ATV Tour From Krabi: $23
- Jurassic World Filming Site and Kayak and ATV Tour from Krabi: $23
- 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $23
- 4 Islands Tour by Longtail Boat & Thai Buffet Lunch: $23
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 dayKrabi $4.72Shangri-La $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer$2.67
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Cocktails (for Two)$8.88
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
- Krabi Pub Crawl: $15
- Krabi Pub Crawl - The Best Nightlife Tour in Ao Nang!: $15
When comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Shangri-La, we can see that Krabi 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 Krabi 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.