Which place is cheaper, Ubud 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 Ubud?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Ubud? 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 Ubud?
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.
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, and The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesUbud Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $97Ubud $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $97, while the average daily cost in Ubud is $143. 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 Ubud in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $42Ubud $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $84Ubud $240
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Ubud
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Ubud? 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 Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.78Ubud $1.64
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: $170
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
- Lhasa Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $102
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- White Water Rafting Ubud Bali With Hotel Transfer: $30
- Waterbom Bali Waterpark Ticket with Optional Transfer: $42
- Water Rafting With Private Transfer And Lunch: $85
- Ultimate Bali: White Water Rafting, 2-Hour Spa & Free Transfer: $80
- Ubud Transfer Service: $29
- Ubud Swing and ATV (Quad Bike) Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $100
- Ubud River Tubing and ATV Ride with Lunch and Private Transfers: $79
- Ubud Private Driver : Safe Bali Driver For Tour Or Hotel Transfer: $32
- Ubud Private Airport Transfer: $9.00
- Ubud Incense Class with Optional Sightseeing and Transfers: $29
- Ubud Green Rafting Ticket And Transfer: $26
- Ubud Cave Tubing Adventure with Hotel Transfers: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Ubud?
Prices for flights to both Ubud 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 $49Ubud $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Ubud Balinese Cooking Class with Rice Field and Market Tour: $19
- Full Day Ubud Waterfall Visit and Cooking Experience: $22
- Afternoon Cooking Class & Making Bali Offering with Dinner: $24
- Ubud Balinese Cooking Class with Rice Field View & Market Tour: $25
- Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
- 8 Hours Private Balinese Cooking Class with Tirta Empul Temple: $28
- Bali Amazing Cooking Class: $30
- Uluwatu, Sunset, Kecak Dance & Dinner: A Romantic Bali Evening: $30
- Be a real Balinese with Traditional Balinese Cooking Class: $30
- Bali Cooking Class with Hotel Pick-up: $30
- Cultural Evening Dinner: $31
- Private Uluwatu Sunset Tour with Kecak Dance and Dinner: $32
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $18Ubud $9.22
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
- 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Private Ubud Tour in Ubud All Inclusive: $25
- 1 Hour Mangrove Tour From Lembongan with Kayak, Paddle, or Boat: $9.95
- 1.5 Hours Bali ATV Quad Tour: $35
- 10 Hours Private North Bali Instagram Tour With Photographer: $51
- 2 Days Tour in Dolphin Sights and Sacred Sites: $200
- 2 Days Tours : VISIT NUSA PENIDA ISLAND: $145
- 2-Day Nusa Penida All-Inclusive: Private Tour, Hotel & Meals: $127
- 2-Day Private Sightseeing Tour of Bali with Hotel Pickup: $87
- 2-Hour Canggu Private Guided Surfing Experience in Bali: $28
- 3 Day Bali Private Tour – Explore Bali Highlights: $190
- 3 Day Kaura Bali Escape with Cultural Experiences: $94
- 3 Days Bali Cheap Tour Package: $240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.47Ubud $6.20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Ubud, we can see that Ubud 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud 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 Ubud Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Ubud?
Lhasa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Ubud, 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.