Which place is cheaper, Chengdu 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 Chengdu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Chengdu? 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 Chengdu?
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.
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesChengdu Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $89Chengdu $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $89, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $66. 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 Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $39Chengdu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $78Chengdu $42
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Chengdu? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.55Chengdu $5.89
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: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- [Airport Transfer] Lhasa Kunga Airport ⇔ Lhasa City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- [Airport Transfer] Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Kosheng City Transfer High reputation for service! : $22
- Sichuan Face Changing Opera With Door to Door Private Transfer: $52
- Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City: $113
- Private Transfer from Chengdu to Sanxingdui Museum: $150
- Private Transfer from Chengdu to Mount Emei and Stops at Leshan Giant Buddha: $160
- Private Transfer from Chengdu hotel to Chengdu Train Station: $27
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport to Chengdu Hotel: $70
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport: $52
- Private Transfer from Chengdu City Hotels to Airport: $35
- Private Transfer Chengdu (TFU & CTU) Airport Pickup Service: $29
- Private Round-Trip Transfer:Chengdu Shuangliu Airport or Chengdu : $67
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu : $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu 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 $45Chengdu $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- More than local Chengdu's Sichuan Cuisine Dinner Experience : $38
- Sichuan Opera Face-Changing Show And Hotpot Dinner Evening Tour: $40
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals : $55
- Market Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class: $56
- Half day Chengdu Dumpling making Cooking Class: Make from Scratch: $62
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half Day Chengdu Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking: $72
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $75
- Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes): $75
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $78
- Half-Day Private Sichuan Hot-Pot Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Chengdu $16
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
- Nepal Tibet Tour 8 Days: $2,639
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $3,170
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chengdu Private Day Tour to the Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi Old Town: $248
- Chinese Traditional Massage Experience In Chengdu: $58
- Dujingyan Panda Sanctuary option Wolong Panda habitat day tour : $99
- Guided Day Tour of Chengdu Culture: $69
- Private Chengdu Panda Base and Sichuan Cuisine Museum Day Tour: $120
- Private Chengdu day Tour of panda base with Leshan giant Buddha: $298
- Private Full Day Chengdu Panda Base and Jinsha Site Museum Tour: $136
- Private Leshan Buddha Day Tour with Local Market visiting: $227
- 1 Day Wenshu Monastery Tea and Veggie Tour from Chengdu: $123
- 1-Day Chengdu Ancient History and Culture City Tour: $179
- 1-Day Chengdu Cultural Discovery:Jinsha,Shu Brocade Museum & Dufu Cottage Tour : $189
- 1-Day Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour With the Lunch and Boat tour: $242
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $6.86Chengdu $3.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Chengdu, we can see that Lhasa is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chengdu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chengdu 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 Lhasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lhasa than you might in Chengdu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lhasa Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Chengdu?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Chengdu, 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.