A Travel Price Comparison for China Lhasa vs. Chongqing for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lhasa or Chongqing?

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

Should I visit Lhasa or Chongqing? 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 Chongqing?

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.

Chongqing

Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.

Which place is cheaper, Chongqing or Lhasa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $72, while the average daily cost in Chongqing is $87. 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 Chongqing in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lhasa $40
    Chongqing $50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lhasa $80
    Chongqing $100
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Chongqing

Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Chongqing? 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 Chongqing


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lhasa $2.60
    Chongqing $19

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 Chongqing

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:

  • [Airport Transfer] Chongqing Airport ⇔ Chongqing City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $23
  • Private Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $43
  • Private Transfer: Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier to Airport (CKG) : $43
  • Private Transfer from Chongqing hotel to Chongqing Train Station : $27
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) : $50
  • Private One Way Transfer (English Service) between Airport & Hotel & Cruise Port: $61
  • Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport CKG: $25
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $39
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chongqing: $24
  • Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chongqing Railway Station to Hotel: $24
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) to Hotel: $25
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Hotel: $22

Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Chongqing?

Prices for flights to both Chongqing 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 $27
    Chongqing $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing

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

  • Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner: $115
  • Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner: $151
  • Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $193
  • From Port Transfer with Half Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $197
  • Chongqing Night View Private Tour with Hot-pot Dinner: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lhasa $17
    Chongqing $14

Tours and Activities in Lhasa

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

  • Half- Day Potala Palace Tour from Lhasa: $278
  • Private Guided Day Tour Potala Palace and Sera Monastery: $360
  • Small-Group 3-Night Lhasa Potala Palace Impression Tour: $411
  • 4 Days Lhasa Impression Small Group Tour: $435
  • Romantic Tour in Lhasa: $461
  • The Best of Lhasa Walking Tour: $461
  • Group 3-Night Holy City Lhasa Tour: $500
  • 4-Day Small Group Lhasa Classic City Tour from Shenzhen: $514
  • 4-Day Small Group Lhasa Classic City Tour from Beijing: $514
  • 4-Day Small Group Lhasa Classic City Tour from Shanghai: $514
  • 4-Day Small Group Lhasa Classic City Tour from Xi'an: $514
  • 4-Day Small Group Lhasa Classic City Tour from Chengdu: $514

Tours and Activities in Chongqing

Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Dazu Rock Carvings Private Day Tour With the baoding Mountain and Beishan site: $251
  • 1-Day Chongqing City Private Tour with the Hot pot Lunch: $157
  • 1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch: $143
  • 1-Day Private Tour: Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges and Fairy Mountain: $382
  • 2-Day Private Lijiang Highlights Tour from Chongqing by Plane: $835
  • 2-Day Private Tour from Chongqing with Hotel:Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes: $835
  • 2-Days Chengdu Panda Base+Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour: $680
  • 2-Days Chongqing City Highlights Sightseeing Private Tour: $416
  • 2-Days Private Tour of Chengdu City Highlights from Chongqing by Bullet Train: $448
  • 2-Days Wulong Karst National Geology Park Private Tour: $544
  • 2Day Wulong Karst Park+Dazu Carvings World Heritage Private Tour : $599
  • 3-Day Chongqing Private Tour: $539

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lhasa $7.01
    Chongqing $7.01


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Chongqing, we can see that Chongqing is more expensive. And not only is Lhasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Chongqing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chongqing than you might in Lhasa.

Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Chongqing?

Chongqing is bigger, and its population is about 33.4 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the population of Lhasa vs. Chongqing, 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 and the activities that interest you.

Related Articles for Chongqing
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.
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Lhasa vs. Chongqing Travel Comparison

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