Which place is cheaper, Sapporo or Lhasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Lhasa or Sapporo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Sapporo? 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 Sapporo?
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.
Sapporo
Capital of the northern Japanese island Hokkaido, Sapporo is a city surrounded by mountains and known for its beer, skiing, and annual snow festival with stunning ice sculptures. As host to the 1972 Winter Olympics, the city limits are dotted with ski jumps, hills, and popular ski resorts still in use today.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $71Sapporo $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $71, while the average daily cost in Sapporo is $106. 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 Sapporo in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $39Sapporo $63
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $78Sapporo $126
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Sapporo
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Sapporo? 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: Sapporo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.56Sapporo $15
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sapporo
Also for Sapporo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Smoothly move between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport with a private car! one way: $135
- SkyExpress Private Transfer: Sapporo to Otaru (8 Passengers): $289
- Shin Chitose Airport to/from Sapporo City: Shared Transfer: $37
- Sapporo City: Private Transfer to/from New Chitose Airport: $119
- Private Transfer: between Sapporo and Upopoy: $467
- Private Transfer from Sapporo hotels to Otaru Cruise Port: $93
- Private Transfer from Sapporo hotels to Muroran Cruise Port: $158
- Private Transfer from Sapporo City Hotels to Muroran Cruise Port: $143
- Horseback-Riding in a Country Side in Sapporo - Private Transfer is Included: $154
- Airport Transfer! Hotel in center of Sapporo to New Chitose Airport (CTS): $140
- New Chitose Airport ↔ Sapporo, Best Transfer Pick up Service : $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Sapporo?
Prices for flights to both Sapporo 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 dayLhasa $26Sapporo $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sapporo
For Sapporo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Market Tour, Cooking Class and Lunch with a Local in Sapporo: $82
- Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour: $82
- Japanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Local Professional in her Lovely Home: $88
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Sapporo $16
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $745
- 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $760
- 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
- Private Full-Day Tour w/ Lunch: $800
- Nepal Tibet Tour 8 Days: $2,729
Tours and Activities in Sapporo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sapporo.
- 2 Day Tour to Icebreaker Mombetsu and Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido: $275
- A Japanese food experience plan in Sapporo where you can enjoy tempura and 3 types of Hokkaido-only sake along with a soba making experience!: $82
- Experience Hokkaido's Summer, Furano, Blue Pond & All-you-can-eat Fresh Melon! : $99
- Experience traditional Japanese cuisine, making soba noodles in Sapporo, in a fun and casual way.: $53
- Exploring Hokkaido Nightlife Susukino Evening Walking Tour: $131
- Friday only! A Japanese food experience where you can enjoy hand-made soba noodles and a luxurious Japanese lunch! !: $164
- From 10-hour Customized Private Tour to Noboribetsu: $2,287
- From Private Customized Day Tour to Biei+Furano: $699
- From Private Customized Day Tour to Otaru: $655
- Full Day Tour Hokkaido Biei Green Pond and Furano Flower Sea: $141
- Half-day (4 hours) Sapporo city Tour: $184
- Hand-rolled sushi experience tour at Sapporo Nijo Market: $44
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $6.90Sapporo $7.98
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Sapporo, we can see that Sapporo 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 Sapporo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sapporo 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 Sapporo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Sapporo?
Sapporo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Sapporo, 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.