Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Nelson?
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 Nelson or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nelson and Shangri-La can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nelson or Shangri-La?
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Nelson Prices
New Zealand PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNelson $114Shangri-La $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Nelson 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 Nelson and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNelson $41Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNelson $82Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Nelson and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Nelson 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: Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nelson $28Shangri-La $11
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 Nelson or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Nelson 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 dayNelson $47Shangri-La $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nelson $23Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $55
- Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $64
- Abel Tasman Vista Cruise: $65
- Skywire Adventure at Cable Bay, Nelson: $65
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $69
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $71
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $74
- Half Day Guided Mountain Biking Adventure in Nelson: $74
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $74
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $77
- Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $78
Tours and Activities in Shangri-La
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shangri-La are as follows:
- Shangri-La Day Tour Songzanlin Monastery and Napa Sea: $67
- Tibetan Village Scenic E-Bike Tour: $117
- 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
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $240
- 1 Day Shangri-La Songzanlin and Potatso National Park Tour: $280
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNelson $13Shangri-La $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $116
- Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $231
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nelson and Shangri-La, we can see that Nelson is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nelson is in Pacific and Shangri-La is in Asia, 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 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 Nelson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nelson 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 Nelson 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.