Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Surfers Paradise? 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 Surfers Paradise?
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.
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesSurfers Paradise Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $96Surfers Paradise $135
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $96, while the average daily cost in Surfers Paradise is $135. 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 Surfers Paradise in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $42Surfers Paradise $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $84Surfers Paradise $146
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Surfers Paradise
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Surfers Paradise? 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 $2.75Surfers Paradise $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Surfers Paradise?
Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise 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 $48Surfers Paradise $50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $18Surfers Paradise $26
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$85
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bush Tucker and Crab Encounters Cruise: $61
- Catch a Crab Tour with Optional Seafood Lunch: $69
- Evening Rainforest & Glow Worm Tour from Gold Coast: $90
- Glow Worms + Day/Night Rainforest & Waterfalls Experience: $158
- Glow Worms - Nocturnal Rainforest/Waterfall Adventure: $79
- Gold Coast 30 Minute Jetski Tour in Surfers Paradise: $87
- Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise 1 Day Pass: $32
- Gold Coast Jet Boat Adventure – 1-Hour Thrill Ride: $61
- Gold Coast JetBlast Jet Boat Ride – 40-Minute Thrill Experience: $40
- Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $40
- Gold Coast: 1-Hour Jetski Tour from Surfers Paradise: $144
- Gold Coast: 360-Degree High-Speed Jet Boat Adventure: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.39Surfers Paradise $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. And not only is Lhasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lhasa is in Asia and Surfers Paradise is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Surfers Paradise?
Lhasa has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Surfers Paradise, 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.