Which place is cheaper, Tokyo 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 Tokyo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Tokyo? 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 Tokyo?
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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesTokyo Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $97Tokyo $177
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $97, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $177. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $42Tokyo $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $84Tokyo $148
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Tokyo
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Tokyo? 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 Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.76Tokyo $17
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 Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yokohama Port: Private Customizable Tour with Transfer: $352
- Tokyo:TeamLab Private Transfer with Hotel Pickup & Drop-off: $207
- Private Transfer to/from Haneda Airport 7 Seater: $124
- Private Transfer from/to Yokohama Port: $183
- Private Transfer from Haneda/Narita Airport to Hotel: $308
- Private Transfer Between Narita Airport & City: $169
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Hakone or Mt.Fuji: $156
- Private Customize Day Tour With Hotel Transfer: $210
- Private Airport Transfer in a Luxury SUV with Meet & Greet: $78
- One-Way Private Transfer from Haneda Airport: $149
- Hotel Transfer to/from Disneyland or DisneySea: $42
- Haneda Airport (HND) Private Transfer to/from City Center: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 $49Tokyo $62
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.03
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.03
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Meal at Airport$6.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market: Traditional Culture & Street Food Tour: $20
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $23
- Shinjuku: 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Shinjuku 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Asakusa: Senso-ji Sightseeing & Street Food Tour with Photos: $29
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $39
- Japanese Sushi Cooking Class: $49
- Weekend Japanese Cooking Demonstration with a Tokyo Mom, Toshiko: $49
- Traditional Matcha Making Cooking Class & Tea Ceremony in Tokyo: $50
- Tokyo Shinjuku Night Food Tour: $52
- Tokyo Home Cooking: Choose Your Favorite Japanese Dishes: $58
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $18Tokyo $66
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 Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- "Enjoy Tokyo Tour" Harajuku Meiji-jingu & Delicious Sake Tasting: $65
- "Ginza → Tsukishima" Walking and Japanese Style Fun Dining Tour: $164
- (Private tour)ShinjukuUnfiltered Secret bar restaurant Tour: $262
- 1 Day Tour to Oshino Hakkai Ole Hot Spring in Mount Fuji: $79
- 1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa Traditional Tokyo and Nature: $130
- 1-Day Mt Fuji and Hakone Sightseeing trip from Tokyo: $338
- 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour: $128
- 1.5 Hours Private Tour at Asakusa Tokyo with Local Expert Guide: $84
- 10:30 local gathering and rafting tour half day (3 hours): $39
- 14:00 local rafting tour half day (3 hours): $39
- 2 Day Package Tour including Haneda Airport Pickup: $203
- 2 Hour Private Tokyo Downtown Kameido Good Fortune Tour: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.43Tokyo $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.77
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Low-cost local pub & bar crawling: $33
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $36
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Nightlife Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Tokyo Shinjuku Gay Bar Crawl with Drinks: $90
- Tokyo Sake Terroir Journey – Guided by Sake Brewery Professional: $92
- Mt. Fuji Area Day Tour: Wine Tasting, Shine Muscat & Scenic Views: $98
- Shinjuku Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local foods-: $105
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $105
- Mt. Fuji & Hakushu Distillery Whisky Museum Bus Tour from Tokyo: $105
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $111
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Tokyo, we can see that Tokyo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Tokyo?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Tokyo, 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.