Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Nha Trang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Nha Trang or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Nha Trang and Shangri-La. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Nha Trang or Shangri-La?
Nha Trang
For the relaxation of a small beach town, plus the energy of a young city, consider Nha Trang, Vietnam. As the most famous seaside town in Vietnam, Nha Trang is certainly livelier than many other beach resort towns. Visiting this part of Vietnam is not for the faint of heart. These people know the meaning of nightlife - and make the night last as long as they can.
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 Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
-
Nha Trang Prices
Vietnam PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNha Trang $48Shangri-La $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Nha Trang is $48, 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 Nha Trang and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNha Trang $13Shangri-La $19
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNha Trang $26Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Nha Trang and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Nha Trang 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: Nha Trang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nha Trang $13Shangri-La $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nha Trang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Nha Trang:
-
Local Bus Ticket$0.11
-
Taxi From Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:
- Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
- Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel : $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Nha Trang or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Nha Trang 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
-
Food Meals for one dayNha Trang $25Shangri-La $33
Typical Food Prices in Nha Trang
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Nha Trang:
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.31
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nha Trang $9.03Shangri-La $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nha Trang
For Nha Trang, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Po Ngar Cham Entrance (for Two)$1.21
-
Two Rental Lounge Chairs on Beach$2.65
-
Vinpearl Land Amusement Park$17
-
Fairy Spring Waterfall Entrance$0.38
-
Thap Ba Mud Bath$3.79
-
Cyclo Tour of City (One Day)$9.48
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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNha Trang $18Shangri-La $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nha Trang and Shangri-La, we can see that Shangri-La is more expensive. And not only is Nha Trang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nha Trang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nha Trang 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 Shangri-La would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shangri-La than you might in Nha Trang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nha Trang 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.