A Travel Price Comparison for China Lhasa vs. Zhangjiajie for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lhasa or Zhangjiajie?

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

Should I visit Lhasa or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie?

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.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie is $63. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lhasa $39
    Zhangjiajie $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lhasa $78
    Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Zhangjiajie

Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie


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 $2.58
    Zhangjiajie $14

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie

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

  • Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie to/from Fenghuang : $149
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
  • Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer: $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Zhangjiajie?

Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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
    Zhangjiajie $20

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lhasa $17
    Zhangjiajie $23

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: $2,734

Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie

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

  • Half-Day Self-Guided Fenghuang Night Tour from Zhangjiajie: $200
  • (Private Day Tour) Zhangjiajie National Park + Tianzi Mountain: $195
  • 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $142
  • 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
  • 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon(Glass Bridge) & Baofeng Lake Tour: $240
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tour: Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Yellow Dragon Cave: $242
  • 1-day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge Tour: $132
  • 1-day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour with Tianmen Cave: $137
  • 2-Day “Best Of Zhangjiajie”-Avatar World & Tianmen Mountain Tour: $260
  • 2-Day Zhangjiajie Happy Foodie&Sightseeing Tour: $300

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lhasa $6.95
    Zhangjiajie $16


When comparing the travel costs between Lhasa and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Lhasa 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Zhangjiajie?

Lhasa has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Zhangjiajie, 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.