A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lhasa vs. Whitsundays for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lhasa or Whitsundays?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Lhasa or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?

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.

Whitsundays

Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.

As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Lhasa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $71, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lhasa $39
    Whitsundays $69
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lhasa $78
    Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Whitsundays

Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Whitsundays? 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.

Hotels in Lhasa


Hotels in Whitsundays


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lhasa $2.56
    Whitsundays $55

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays

Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124

Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Whitsundays?

Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lhasa $26
    Whitsundays $30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays

For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lhasa $17
    Whitsundays $25

Tours and Activities in Lhasa

For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $745
  • 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $760
  • 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
  • Private Full-Day Tour w/ Lunch: $800
  • Nepal Tibet Tour 8 Days: $2,729

Tours and Activities in Whitsundays

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.

  • Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
  • Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
  • From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
  • Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lhasa $6.90
    Whitsundays $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays Expensive?.


Related Articles for Whitsundays