Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Mount Kailash?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mount Kailash or Katoomba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mount Kailash or Katoomba? 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: Mount Kailash or Katoomba?
Mount Kailash
The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMount Kailash $71Katoomba $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $71, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $134. 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 Mount Kailash and Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMount Kailash $27Katoomba $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMount Kailash $54Katoomba $154
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Katoomba? 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: Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mount Kailash $31Katoomba $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba and Mount Kailash 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 dayMount Kailash $24Katoomba $17
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mount Kailash $15Katoomba $53
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $32
- Blue Mountains BarNSW Local Produce Tasting Experience: $37
- Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $65
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $66
- Half-Day Abseiling Adventure in Blue Mountains National Park: $83
- Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $97
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $98
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $107
- Small-Group Blue Mountains Tour with Bush Walks and Featherdale Wildlife Park: $116
- 4Hrs at Wolgan Valley Birdwatching Experience: $129
- Truffle Hunt and Taste Experience in Oberon, NSW Australia: $146
- Private Blue Mountains Rainforest and Waterfalls SUV Tour: $165
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMount Kailash $2.76Katoomba -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Mount Kailash much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mount Kailash is in Asia and Katoomba 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 Mount Kailash would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mount Kailash 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba than you might in Mount Kailash.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mount Kailash Expensive? and Is Katoomba 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.