Which place is cheaper, Te Anau 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 Te Anau?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Te Anau? 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 Te Anau?
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.
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town on the South Island of New Zealand, best-known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is a major destination for ecotourism as it is home to rare species like the endangered flightless takahe bird and natural features like caves, waterfalls, forests, lakes, glacial valleys, and mountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesTe Anau Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $97Te Anau $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $97, while the average daily cost in Te Anau is $112. 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 Te Anau in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $42Te Anau $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $84Te Anau $82
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Te Anau
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Te Anau? 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: Lhasa Hotel Prices and Te Anau Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.78Te Anau $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $102
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Te Anau
Also for Te Anau, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kepler Water Taxi Transfer across Lake Te Anau: $17
- Te Anau to Invercargill Small Group Transfer: $57
- Private te annu transfer and tour: $395
- Lake Marian Guided Hike with Transfers, Lunch & Morning Tea: $189
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Te Anau?
Prices for flights to both Te Anau 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 $49Te Anau $44
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $18Te Anau $45
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 Te Anau
For Te Anau, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Authentic Kiwi Farm Tour at Woodstone Farm: $51
- Award Winning Milford Sound Full Day Tour & Cruise from Te Anau: $181
- Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau: $95
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau: $220
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri: $165
- Epic Milford Guided Tour from Te Anau: $172
- Evening Champagne Cruise on Historic 1935 Motor Yacht.: $84
- Fiordland Waterfall Small Group Cruise from Te Anau: $172
- Fiordland: Jet Boat & Nature Walk Experience from Te Anau: $119
- From Doubtful Sound Coach & Cruise: $216
- From Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise: $119
- From Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks: $173
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.47Te Anau $13
When comparing the travel costs between Lhasa and Te Anau, we can see that Te Anau 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. Even though Lhasa is in Asia and Te Anau is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lhasa Expensive? and Is Te Anau Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Te Anau?
Lhasa has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Te Anau. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Te Anau, 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.