Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Shenzhen? 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 Shenzhen?
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.
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
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 PricesShenzhen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $95Shenzhen $147
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $95, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $147. 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 Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $41Shenzhen $95
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $82Shenzhen $190
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Shenzhen
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Shenzhen? 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 $2.73Shenzhen $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Lhasa Kunga Airport ⇔ Lhasa City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! : $89
- Lhasa Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $88
- Lhasa Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $103
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- shenzhen airport private transfer: $31
- Venetian Macao and Macau Heritage Tour with 2-way ferry transfers from Hong Kong: $115
- Transfer Hong Kong to Hong Kong Airport by Luxury Van or Sedan: $120
- Private Transfers to/from Bao'an Airport(SZX): $20
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Private Transfer & Elite Executive Assistance: $299
- Shenzhen Private transfer and Ongoing assistance: $39
- Shenzhen Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Shenzhen Int Airport (SZX) to Shenzhen - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Seamless VIP Hong Kong Airport Transfer with 1 Hour Dining Stop: $115
- Private Transfer: Hong Kong to Airport HKG by Luxury Van: $145
- Private Transfer: Hong Kong to Airport HKG by Business Car: $126
- Private Transfer: Hong Kong Airport HKG to Hong Kong City in Business Car: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Shenzhen?
Prices for flights to both Shenzhen 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 $48Shenzhen $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Shenzhen Food Tour and Expat Services: $48
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Locals - Dim Sum, Wonton & more: $59
- Best Street Food Tour With a Local Guide in Hong Kong: $97
- Hong Kong's Tin Hau Hidden Gems Food Tour with 7+ Local Tastings: $107
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District: $107
- Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $115
- Hong Kong Market Walking Tour & Chinese Cooking Class: $131
- Hong Kong Sightseeing Tour With Dinner Cruise From Shenzhen: $136
- Hong Kong Best Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $149
- Kowloon Street Food Tour Private & Personalized with a Local: $172
- Kowloon Night Street Food Tour with a Local: Private & Customized: $198
- Private Hong Kong Top Night Tour: Cruise, Aquarium Dinner, Peak: $249
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $18Shenzhen $18
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
- 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $103
- A Perfect Hong Kong Layover - 5h private tour: $300
- Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $53
- Audio Tour of Hong Kong: Hollywood Road Loop: $8.99
- Best Seller: VIP Lantau Tai O Tour Priority Cable Car, Big Buddha: $99
- Between Capitalism & Communism: Hong Kong History Tip Based Tour: $2.62
- Big Bus Hong Kong Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour: $56
- Big Bus Hong Kong Panoramic Night Tour by Open-Top Bus: $45
- Boat Tour Through Four Sea Arches in Sai Kung, Hong Kong Geopark: $78
- Cheung Chau Island Tour: $105
- City Tour and Film Portrait in Hong Kong: $157
- Coach Tour: Hong Kong Heritage Discovery: $144
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.34Shenzhen $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Shenzhen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Shenzhen:
- Hong Kong Pub Crawl at Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Shenzhen, we can see that Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Shenzhen, 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.