Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Nagasaki?
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 Nagasaki or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nagasaki or Shangri-La? 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: Nagasaki or Shangri-La?
Nagasaki
Set in a natural harbor on the northwest coast of Japan, Nagasaki is a Japanese city synonymous with a key moment during WWII after suffering an Allied nuclear attack in 1945. While the event is memorialized at the city's Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park, the city in no way is defined by the event. Today it exists as a culturally and religiously diverse port town with a certain charm amongst the terraces of surrounding hills.
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 Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Nagasaki Prices
Japan PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNagasaki $114Shangri-La $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Nagasaki is $114, 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 Nagasaki and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNagasaki $49Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNagasaki $98Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Nagasaki and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Nagasaki 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: Nagasaki Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nagasaki $19Shangri-La $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagasaki
Also for Nagasaki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Nagasaki Airport (NGS) to Nagasaki Port: $117
- Nagasaki City to Nagasaki International Airport Private Departure Transfer: $196
- Nagasaki International Airport to Nagasaki City Private Arrival Transfer: $196
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:
- Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel : $149
- Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Nagasaki or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Nagasaki 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 dayNagasaki $50Shangri-La $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagasaki
For Nagasaki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking with a Local Okaasan at Kominka in Ojika Island Nagasaki: $41
- Sunset Beach Dinner: $53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nagasaki $23Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Nagasaki
For Nagasaki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Nagasaki GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $12
- Gunkanjima Digital Museum Attraction Ticket: $13
- Discover Stunning Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Private Ring Craft Experience in Nagasaki: $23
- Experience farming (rice cultivation) in terraced rice paddies: $38
- Private Fishing and Dining Experience in Ojika Japan: $45
- Traditional Kimono Experience in Nagasaki: $55
- Nagasaki Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $55
- Terraced Rice Paddy Restaurant and Rural Experience: $61
- Finding Local Cats and Hidden Alleys of Nagasaki Walking Tour: $62
- Mochitsuki Rice Cake Making Experience in Ojika Island: $78
- Nagasaki Gyoza&Soy Sauce Ramen Culinary Experience: $83
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 dayNagasaki $11Shangri-La $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagasaki and Shangri-La, we can see that Nagasaki is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Shangri-La would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shangri-La 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 Nagasaki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nagasaki than you might in Shangri-La.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nagasaki 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.