Which place is cheaper, Tokyo or Mount Kailash?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mount Kailash or Tokyo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mount Kailash or Tokyo? 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 Tokyo?
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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMount Kailash $71Tokyo $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $71, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $157. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMount Kailash $27Tokyo $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMount Kailash $54Tokyo $152
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Tokyo
Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Tokyo? 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mount Kailash $31Tokyo $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Tokyo to Narita Airport: $221
- Airport transfer between Haneda and Tokyo or Disney or Yokohama: $122
- Departure Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND in Sedan: $278
- Departure Transfer from Tokyo City to Haneda Airport HND by van: $76
- From Haneda Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Tokyo City: $88
- From Tokyo:Private tour to Kamakura with Round-way transfer: $599
- Fuji-Q Highland 1-Day Pass with Private Transfer: $239
- Hakuba: Private transfer from/to Tokyo/HND by minibus max 9: $815
- Haneda Airport (HND) Private Transfer to Central Tokyo: $107
- Haneda Airport (HND) to/from Tokyo 23 Ward Private Transfer: $107
- Haneda Airport (HND): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Tokyo: $165
- Haneda Airport (HND): Private Transfer to/from Fuji Area: $407
Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 $24Tokyo $37
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.22
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.22
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Meal at Airport$6.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Takoyaki cooking experience in Kabukicho, Shinjuku: $22
- Easy Ramen Cooking Experience in Kabukicho, Shinjuku: $25
- 2 Hours Japanese Style Pub and Food Tour in Ueno: $32
- 【Contemporary Culture】Food tour I Always Visit in Shibuya: $38
- 【Contemporary Culture】food tour I Always Visit in Shibuya: $39
- Tokyo Best Cooking Class! Sushi Making Experience in Tsukiji: $52
- Tokyo Best Cooking Class！ Sushi making class in Tsukiji: $55
- Japanese Traditional Cooking Class: $58
- Wagyu and 7 Japanese Dishes Cooking Class: $59
- Tokyo Wagyu Culinary Tour Cooking Culture and Tasting: $65
- Small-Group Wagyu Beef and 7 Japanese Dishes Tokyo Cooking Class: $68
- Private Food Tour in Downtown Yanesen and Nezu Shrine: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mount Kailash $15Tokyo $68
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- Japan: Zen and Tea Ceremony Audio Guided Tour: $3.16
- Asakusa Walking Tour with an Experienced Japanese Comedian: $3.25
- Ancient Orient Museum Admission Ticket: $3.79
- Samurai and Bushido Audio Guided Tour: $4.55
- 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour Subway Ticket: $5.05
- Akihabara Walking Tour with Otaku and Photography: $6.31
- Local Food and Bar Tour in Ginza: $6.32
- Shibuya Sightseeing with an Audio Guide: $6.32
- Ueno: Self-Guided Tour of Ameyoko and Hidden Gems: $6.32
- Audio Guide Tour: Deeper Experience of Shinjuku Sightseeing: $6.32
- Asakusa（Tokyo）: Smartphone Audio Guide Tour: $6.32
- Harajuku: Audio Guide Tour of Takeshita Street: $6.32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMount Kailash $2.76Tokyo $33
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.91
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: $25
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Weekly Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $52
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $78
- barhopping tour&bar crawl in Retro Town Shimokitazawa: $82
- Toshimaya Sake Brewery Tour with Sake Tasting: $88
- Tokyo | 3 Hours Brewery Tour with Sake Sommelier: $101
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo : $104
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $133
- Private Local Craft Brewery Tour in Tokyo: $150
- Wooden Barrel Sake Brewery Tour and Unlimited Tasting Near Tokyo: $161
- Private Walking Tour with Sake Brewery Visit in Chichibu: $190
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Tokyo, we can see that Tokyo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo 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.