Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen or Mount Kailash?
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 Mount Kailash or Shenzhen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mount Kailash or Shenzhen? 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 Shenzhen?
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.
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Mount Kailash Prices
China PricesShenzhen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMount Kailash $95Shenzhen $148
The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $95, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $148. 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 Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMount Kailash $29Shenzhen $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMount Kailash $58Shenzhen $192
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Shenzhen
Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Shenzhen? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mount Kailash $33Shenzhen $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A One-Way Disneyland Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Hotel: $33
- A One-Way Hotel Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Disneyland: $36
- A Premium Airport Transfer Service Hong Kong with Mercedes Benz: $39
- Guangzhou One Day Tour with Bullet Train Transfer from Hong Kong: $188
- HK City, Cruise Terminal and Train Station Transfer Luxury MPV: $92
- HK: Lantau Priority Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car with City Transfer: $50
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) Transfer to Shenzhen by Toyota Alphard: $220
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $90
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $104
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Port - Round- Trip Private Transfer: $137
- Hong Kong Airport Chauffeur Service, Hong Kong Airport Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Shenzhen?
Prices for flights to both Shenzhen 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 $45Shenzhen $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Shenzhen Food Tour with Locals: $38
- Hong Kong: Fresh Produce Market and Cook-to-Order Food Tour: $39
- Hong Kong: 7-Course Hong Kong Street & Restaurant Food Tour: $59
- Best Street Food Tour With a Local Guide in Hong Kong: $97
- Hong Kong's Tin Hau Hidden Gems Food Tour with 7+ Local Tastings: $107
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $107
- Hong Kong Market Walking Tour & Chinese Cooking Class: $131
- Hong Kong Sightseeing Tour With Dinner Cruise From Shenzhen: $136
- Kowloon Street Food Tour Private & Personalized with a Local: $172
- Layover Tour from airport - Classic Hong Kong with Tram Ride and Dinner Cruise: $182
- Kowloon Night Street Food Tour with a Local: Private & Customized: $198
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $239
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mount Kailash $17Shenzhen $18
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Introduction to Hong Kong: Central Tip Based Walking Tour: $2.62
- Between Capitalism & Communism: Hong Kong History Tip Based Tour: $2.62
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Hong Kong: $4.71
- Skip the Line! Walk to the Peak: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Yau Ma Tei: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in the Heart of Kowloon: $5.40
- Victoria Peak: Climb to the summit via the Mid-Levels escalato on an audio tour: $5.40
- Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Hong Kong Ghost Tour: $6.00
- Secret Hong Kong: Hidden Local Spots Self Guided Adventure: $8.24
- Hong Kong: Airport Express e-Ticket (Kowloon/HK/Tsing Yi): $11
- Monopoly Dreams Hong Kong Ticket Peak Galleria 4D Fun: $13
- Hong Kong Airport Express Train Tickets(Avoid Heavy Traffic): $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMount Kailash $2.96Shenzhen $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Shenzhen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Shenzhen:
- Hong Kong Pub Crawl at Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Shenzhen, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Mount Kailash much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen 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.