Which place is cheaper, Auckland or Lhasa?
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 Lhasa or Auckland?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Auckland? 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: Lhasa or Auckland?
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesAuckland Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $96Auckland $172
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $96, while the average daily cost in Auckland is $172. 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 Lhasa and Auckland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $42Auckland $100
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $84Auckland $200
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Auckland
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Auckland? 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: Auckland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.75Auckland $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
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Bus from Airport$9.57
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Airport Shuttle$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [PRIVATE] Airport Transfer from/to Auckland Airport: $108
- Waitomo Caves / Transfer: $171
- VIP / Premium Airport Transfers: $105
- Transfer Service: Auckland to Rotorua or Rotorua to Auckland: $180
- Rotorua to Auckland - Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Caves: $188
- Private Transfer North Shore or Henderson to Auckland Airport AKL by Luxury Van: $127
- Private Transfer From Auckland City To Auckland Airport Oaks: $60
- Private Transfer From Auckland Airport Oaks To Auckland City: $60
- Private One-Way Transfer: Auckland CBD Hotel to Auckland Airport: $65
- Private One-Way Transfer: Auckland Airport to Auckland City Hotel: $65
- Private Mercedes Airport Transfers in Auckland: $90
- Private Luxury Sedan Transfer Auckland Airport To Auckland Hotel: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Auckland?
Prices for flights to both Auckland and Lhasa 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 dayLhasa $48Auckland $46
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$4.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbour Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $93
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $101
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $102
- Ponsonby Road Food Tour in Auckland: $113
- Auckland Downtown Food Tour with 5 Locals Favorite Dishes: $129
- Waiheke Island: Private Sunset Wine Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $392
- Māori Evening Dinner and Private Show Experience: $519
- From Kiwi Bird Encounter & 3-Course Dinner Tour: $550
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $18Auckland $28
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
- 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)$33
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Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)$121
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "City of Sails" highlights - private tour with German tour guide: $220
- 1 Night Auckland - Departure Option with Auckland Sightseeing: $240
- 2025 Award Winning: Auckland City Highlights Half Day Tour: $96
- 24 day Greatest Of All Tours Small Group Tour: $3,447
- 6 Hours Sightseeing Tour in Auckland: $174
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Auckland's Hidden Stories: $12
- AKL: TAUPO - Maori Rock Carving Cruise, Wai O Tapu & Blue Springs: $288
- AKL: TAUPO Maori Rock Carvings Cruise, Wai O Tapu & Blue Springs: $270
- Half-Day CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR - Mt.Eden, Tamaki Dr: $86
- Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland: $120
- Amazing Auckland City Half Day Guided Tour: $108
- America's Cup Sailing Experience on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour: $126
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.39Auckland $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Waiheke Island: Scenic Island Wine Tour & Local Wine Tasting: $110
- Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch: $120
- Kumeu Wineries, Muriwai / Hallertau Brewery: $153
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $159
- Waiheke Island: Wine Tour & Lunch at Award Winning Venue: $168
- Piha Waitakere Rainforest Wine Tour from Auckland: $177
- Muriwai GANNET Colony & Wine Tasting - Half Day Tour Ex Auckland: $180
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $180
- Kumeu Wine Tasting & Local Flavours Tour: Vines, Brews & Views: $180
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $183
- Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch: $186
- City Tour with Wine Tasting and Black Sand Beach: $217
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Auckland, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Lhasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lhasa is in Asia and Auckland is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Lhasa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lhasa 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland than you might in Lhasa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lhasa Expensive? and Is Auckland Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Auckland?
Auckland has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Auckland, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.