Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Lombok?
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 Lombok or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lombok and Shangri-La. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lombok or Shangri-La?
Lombok
Lombok is an island east of the well-tread Bali and west of lesser-developed Sumbawa. While Lombok is not as popular as its neighbor to the west, it is a great place to visit for that very reason. Less popularity means lower prices for accommodations, food, activities, and less-inundated tourist spots. Nonetheless, Lombok is rapidly developing in tourism, and the government is naming it and Sumbawa the number two tourism spots, following Bali.
Shangri-La
The original Shangri-La existed in the fictional world of James Hilton's novel "The Lost Horizon." It was a hidden paradise, a place so beautiful that it couldn't possibly exist on earth. The Shangri-La that exists in Yunnan, China today was renamed from its former title Zhongdian in 2001 in order to associate the place with the mystical allure created in Hilton's novel. Visitors come to admire the traditional monasteries and temples set against a backdrop of mountain preserves and pristine lakes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Lombok Prices
Indonesia PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLombok $59Shangri-La $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $59, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $61. 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 Lombok and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLombok $28Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLombok $56Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Shangri-La? 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: Lombok Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lombok $11Shangri-La $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok
Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kuta Lombok Transfer: $12
- Private Transfer International Airport Lombok (LOP) To Hotel: $17
- Gili Trawangan, Air, or 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali: $28
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Lombok Cruise Port: $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Cruise Port to Lombok island hotels: $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Island Hotels to Lombok Cruise Port: $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Koeta : $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Batu Payung: $30
- Private Airport Lombok Transfers to or from Gili Islands: $32
- Private Transfer from Mataram to Lombok Airport (LOP): $35
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Mangsit: $35
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Bintaro: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:
- Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
- Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel : $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Lombok 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 dayLombok $20Shangri-La $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lombok
For Lombok, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Anggrek Putih Lombok Cooking Class : $25
- Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $63
- Love and Legends: The Ultimate Romantic Dinner on the beach : $65
- Amazing Lombok BBQ Beach Sunset Dinner: $86
- Lombok Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $100
- Royal Dinner Experience in Lombok at Royal Tugudom: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lombok $9.90Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Lombok
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.
- Gili T Island: The Thrilling Sunset Snorkeling Adventure: $17
- Lombok Private Tour-Car Hire With Full day Customize Trip: $33
- Lombok Customize Tour with Private Driver: $35
- Lombok Private Custom Tour - Lombok Car Hire with Driver : $36
- Half-Day Mataram City Tour: $45
- Lombok Private Customize Tour: $45
- Lombok Customize Tour: $45
- Lombok White Water Rafting and Pura Lingsar Private Full Day Tour: $48
- Gili Nanggu Snorkeling Tour to a Tropical Paradise: $49
- Mataram Lombok Historical City tour: $49
- Lombok City Tour combination With Temple Tour : $49
- Benang Stokel, Benang Kelambu, Culture, & Beach Tour: $49
Tours and Activities in Shangri-La
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shangri-La are as follows:
- 1 Day Shangri-La Songzanlin and Potatso National Park Tour: $280
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- 1-Day Shangri-La Private Tour: Potatso National Park and Baiji Temple: $169
- 1-Day Shangri-La Tour to Ganden Monastery, Nixi Pottery Village and Tibetan Town: $185
- 1-Day Shangri-La tour with Ganden Monastery, Napahai Lake and Tibetan Town: $190
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $240
- Shangri-La Day Tour Songzanlin Monastery and Napa Sea: $67
- Tibetan Village Scenic E-Bike Tour: $117
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLombok $7.84Shangri-La $13
When comparing the travel costs between Lombok and Shangri-La, we can see that Shangri-La 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 Lombok Expensive? and Is Shangri-La Expensive?.
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.