Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Lhasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lhasa or Kunming?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Kunming? 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 Kunming?
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.
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $72Kunming $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $72, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $69. 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 Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $40Kunming $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $80Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Kunming? 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 $2.61Kunming $14
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
- One way Kunming airport to hotel private transfer: $41
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming 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 $27Kunming $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kunming evening food tour with locals: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Kunming $19
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10 Days Everest Base Camp with Lake Namtso Small Group Tour: $2,035
- 11 Days Chengdu to Tibet Everest Base Camp Group Tour: $2,804
- 12 Days Beijing Lhasa Kathmandu Group Tour: $3,125
- 15 Days Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar Small Group Tour: $2,401
- 15-Day Small Group Sightseeing Tour from Lhasa to Majestic: $2,495
- 16 Days Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Small Group Tour during: $3,476
- 4 Days Best of Lhasa Tour - Discover the Holy City: $591
- 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $644
- 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $760
- 4 Days Lhasa Small Group Tour - Wandering in Sunlight City: $797
- 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
- 5 Days Lhasa and Ganden Monastery Small Group Tour: $695
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- 1-Day Stone Forest Geological Park Private Tour with the Lunch from Kunming: $201
- Kunming Private Day Tour to Jiuxiang Cave with Boat Ride : $209
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $196
- 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
- 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
- 1-Day Kunming tour with the West Hill,Dragon Gate and Bamboo Temple: $222
- Classical Yunnan 8days highlights tour start from Kunming: $1,395
- Essences of Kunming Downtown Day Tour: $129
- Full Day Private Kunming Sedan Chair Snow Mountain Tour: $130
- Full-Day Private Tour to Fuxian Lake from Kunming with Lunch: $188
- Half Day Flower Tour in Kunming: $91
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.04Kunming $18
When comparing the travel costs between Lhasa and Kunming, we can see that Lhasa 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 Lhasa Expensive? and Is Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Kunming, 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.