Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Nagoya?
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 Nagoya or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nagoya 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: Nagoya or Shangri-La?
Nagoya
Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka, as well as one of the nation's major economic centers, being the home of auto giants like Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi Motors. With a history that dates back to samurai and ninja, Nagoya has evolved over the years into a trade center and hub for automobile and aircraft manufacturing. And it's also home to the Legoland resort!
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 Luxury Tours to Japan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Nagoya Prices
Japan PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNagoya $113Shangri-La $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Nagoya is $113, 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 Nagoya and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNagoya $48Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNagoya $96Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Nagoya and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Nagoya 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: Nagoya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nagoya $12Shangri-La $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagoya
Also for Nagoya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Japan Railway Station Shared Departure Transfer : Nagoya City to Nagoya Station: $71
- Nagoya to Nagoya Int Airport NGO, Departure Private Transfer: $91
- Shared Departure Transfer : Nagoya City to Chubu Airport: $99
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya City Hotels: $126
- Private Transfer from Nagoya hotels to Nagoya Cruise Port: $139
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya hotels: $139
- Nagoya to Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) - Departure Private Transfer: $151
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya Airport (NGO): $201
- Private Transfer - Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) to Nagoya Cruise Port: $201
- Private Departure Transfer Nagoya City to Chubu Centrair International Airport: $208
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Airport (NGO) to Toyama Port: $235
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) to Nagoya Port: $285
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 Nagoya or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Nagoya 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 dayNagoya $49Shangri-La $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagoya
For Nagoya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Nagoya Night Bar & Food Tour with Locals 【Private Tour】: $59
- Osu Kannon Temple & Street Food Tour in Nagoya's Osu District: $83
- Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour: $159
- Traditional Ukai Watching Private Tour from Nagoya With Dinner: $221
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nagoya $13Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Nagoya
For Nagoya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ramen Making Experience: $38
- Experience Being a Shinto Priest or Shrine Maiden at NAGOYA: $45
- English-Guided Jogging Tour of the City (2 hours): $50
- Shirakawago and Takayama Bus Tour from Nagoya: $58
- Hida Takayama & Shirakawa-go Bus Tour w/Optional Lunch: $59
- Shiragawa-go, Hida Takayama UNESCO Full-Day Tour from Nagoya: $61
- Nagoya Castle Private Guided Tour: $64
- Gujo, Hida Takayama, and Shirakawa-go Day Tour from Nagoya: $65
- Shirakawa-go + Hida Takayama Day Tour from Nagoya Station: $66
- Nagoya Tour in Inuyama Castle, Ena George, Magome and Tsumagojuku: $68
- Private Japanese Martial Arts and Samurai Experience in Gifu: $68
- Legoland Resort ticket in Japan : $69
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 dayNagoya $13Shangri-La $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nagoya
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nagoya:
- The Nagoya Restaurant and Bar Crawl: $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagoya and Shangri-La, we can see that Nagoya 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 Nagoya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nagoya 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 Nagoya 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.