Which place is cheaper, Tianjin or Lhasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lhasa or Tianjin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Tianjin? 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 Tianjin?
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.
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $72Tianjin $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $72, while the average daily cost in Tianjin is $77. 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 Tianjin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $40Tianjin $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $80Tianjin $70
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Tianjin
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Tianjin? 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 $2.61Tianjin $37
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: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- [Airport Transfer] Lhasa Kunga Airport ⇔ Lhasa City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $112
- Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
- Tianjin Port Private transfers to Tianjin train station: $51
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer from City Hotels: $80
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $66
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing Airport/City Private Transfer: $119
- Tianjin Cruise Port Transfer To Tianjin Airport one way private transfer: $50
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $29
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Tianjin Binhai Airport(TSN) to Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $13
- Private Transfer: Train Stations (Tianjin/Tanggu) to Tianjin Cruise Port: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Tianjin?
Prices for flights to both Tianjin 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 $27Tianjin $21
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Tianjin $10
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 11 Days Chengdu to Tibet Everest Base Camp Group Tour: $2,805
- 15 Days Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar Small Group Tour: $2,402
- 15-Day Small Group Sightseeing Tour from Lhasa to Majestic: $2,495
- 4 Days Best of Lhasa Tour - Discover the Holy City: $591
- 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $644
- 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $760
- 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
- 5 Days Lhasa and Ganden Monastery Small Group Tour: $695
- 7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Small Group Tour: $1,550
- 8 Days Central Tibet and Namtso Small Group Tour: $1,113
- Private Full-Day Tour w/ Lunch: $800
- Nepal Tibet Tour 8 Days: $2,706
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- 2 Days Beijing Group Tour from Tianjin Port without Shop Stops: $276
- 4- Hour Tianjin Local Food & Tea Tour: $49
- 4-Hour Private Tianjin Walking Tour with Dim Sum: $168
- 4-Hour Shore Excursion: Tianjin City Highlights and Binhai Bullet Train Experience: $259
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion Highlight Tour with Peking Duck Experience: $240
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion Private Shopping Tour: $120
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Porcelain House with Bullet Train Experience: $240
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.04Tianjin $11
When comparing the travel costs between Lhasa and Tianjin, we can see that Tianjin 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lhasa Expensive? and Is Tianjin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Tianjin?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Tianjin, 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.