A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lhasa vs. Byron Bay for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lhasa or Byron Bay?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Lhasa or Byron Bay? 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 Byron Bay?

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.

Byron Bay

South of Brisbane, off the Pacific Highway, is the coastal town of Byron Bay. It is close to Cape Byron, which is the easternmost point in mainland Australia. Byron Bay makes its way onto most traveler's itineraries because of its wonderful beach activities. The area is world famous for its waves, making it popular with surfers, but it also has incredible scuba diving, whale watching, and a generally relaxed atmosphere. The area continues to rise in popularity with travelers and as such, amenities and facilities are popping up everywhere.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Byron Bay or Lhasa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $91, while the average daily cost in Byron Bay is $175. 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 Byron Bay in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lhasa $40
    Byron Bay $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lhasa $80
    Byron Bay $134
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Byron Bay

Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Byron Bay? 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.

Hotels in Lhasa


Hotels in Byron Bay


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: Byron Bay Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lhasa $2.60
    Byron Bay $32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa

Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
  • Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260

Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Byron Bay?

Prices for flights to both Byron Bay 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lhasa $46
    Byron Bay $83

Typical Food Prices in Byron Bay

Some typical examples of dining costs in Byron Bay are as follows:


  • Dinner at Olivo (for 2)
    $59

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Byron Bay

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Byron Bay.

  • Bangalow Native Bush Food Tour: $50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lhasa $17
    Byron Bay $36

Tours and Activities in Lhasa

For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
  • 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
  • 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185

Typical Entertainment Prices in Byron Bay

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Byron Bay are as follows:


  • Buddha Gardens Spa (for 2)
    $124
  • Surf Lesson
    $43

Tours and Activities in Byron Bay

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Byron Bay are as follows:

  • Tandem Skydive Experience : $280
  • Beyond Byron Hinterland Tour: $147
  • Brisbane: Byron Bay Day Tour - Lighthouse Sunset & The Farm: $125
  • Broken Head Aboriginal Tour: $50
  • Broken Head Aboriginal Tour: $50
  • Byron Bay Dolphin Tour - Ocean Safari: $64
  • Byron Bay Half-Day Tour: $65
  • Byron Bay Lighthouse Aboriginal Tour: $66
  • Byron Bay Lighthouse Aboriginal Tour: $65
  • Byron Bay Private Bike Tour : $50
  • Byron Bay Wild Koala Tour: $85
  • Byron Bay and Burleigh Heads Private Tour from Brisbane: $959

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lhasa $7.01
    Byron Bay $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Byron Bay

Also in Byron Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Arvo Session Brewery and Distillery Tour: $99
  • Afternoon Brewery and Distillery session : $104
  • Full-Day Brewery and Distillery Tour with Lunch: $136
  • Full Barrel Brewery and Distillery tour: $137


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Byron Bay, we can see that Byron Bay 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 Byron Bay 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 Byron Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Byron Bay 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 Byron Bay Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Byron Bay?

Lhasa has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Byron Bay. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Byron Bay, 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.