Which city is cheaper, Shangri-La or Lhasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for China Lhasa vs. Shangri-La for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Lhasa or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Shangri-La? 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.
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.
Shangri-La
The original Shangri-La existed in the fictional world of James Hilton's novel "The Lost Horizon." It was a hidden paradise, a place so beautiful that it couldn't possibly exist on earth. The Shangri-La that exists in Yunnan, China today was renamed from its former title Zhongdian in 2001 in order to associate the place with the mystical allure created in Hilton's novel. Visitors come to admire the traditional monasteries and temples set against a backdrop of mountain preserves and pristine lakes.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $61Shangri-La $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $61, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $40. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lhasa and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $34Shangri-La $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $68Shangri-La $32
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.21Shangri-La $8.97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $89
- Lhasa Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $89
- Lhasa Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $89
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La 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 $23Shangri-La $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 4-Day Lhasa City Essential Group Tour including Hotel and Welcome Dinner: $592
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $15Shangri-La $14
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4 Days Top Lhasa Group Tour: $53
- Highlight Tibet Potala Palace Tour with Tibet Travel Expert Guide: $95
- Day Tour: Tibet Ganden Monastery: $178
- Day Tour: Tibet Drepung and Sera Monasteries: $180
- Day Tour: Tibet Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple: $237
- Tibet Entry Permit Plus Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Streets and Sera Monastery Tour: $263
- Half- Day Potala Palace Tour from Lhasa: $278
- 2-Day Lake Namtso Experience Small-Group Tour from Lhasa: $353
- 2-Day Gyantse and Shigatse Tour from Lhasa: $359
- Lhasa overview tour - 2 days: $360
- The Best Bet 4 Days Lhasa Tour with Local Tibet Travel Expert: $421
- 3-Night Essential Lhasa Tour: $474
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $5.96Shangri-La $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Shangri-La, we can see that Lhasa is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Shangri-La would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shangri-La 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 Shangri-La.
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Budget Your Trip
Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.More City Comparisons
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