A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pushkar vs. Lijiang for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pushkar or Lijiang?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pushkar and Lijiang can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Pushkar or Lijiang?

Pushkar

Pushkar is a city located in the state of Rajasthan, India. The city is considered a holy one; it's famous for its Brahma temple. It is also known for its ghats, its lake, and bazaar. Brahma is one part of the holy Hindu trinity and is known sit on a lotus flower (which is what 'Pushkar' translates to). In Hindu religion, Brahma is believed to be the creator of this world and Pushkar is the most important temple.

Lijiang

Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Cultural Tours in India, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Lijiang or Pushkar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pushkar is $28, while the average daily cost in Lijiang is $41. 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 Pushkar and Lijiang in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pushkar $12
    Lijiang $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pushkar $24
    Lijiang $30
Compare Hotels in Pushkar and Lijiang

Looking for a hotel in Pushkar or Lijiang? 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.

Hotels in Pushkar


Hotels in Lijiang


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: Pushkar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pushkar $4.95
    Lijiang $5.58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pushkar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pushkar:

  • Private Transfers Pushkar To Udaipur Drop: $49
  • Private Transfers Pushkar To New Delhi Drop: $61
  • Private Transfers Pushkar To Jodhpur Drop: $49
  • Private Transfer from Pushkar to Jaipur: $43
  • Private Transfer From Jaipur To Jodhpur Via Pushkar: $66
  • Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Udaipur In AC Vehicle: $112
  • Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Ranthambore In AC Vehicle: $117
  • Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To New Delhi In AC Vehicle: $112
  • Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Mount Abu In AC Vehicle: $112
  • Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Jodhpur In AC Vehicle: $71
  • Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Jaipur In AC Vehicle: $45
  • Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Agra In AC Vehicle: $112

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang

Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali : $149
  • Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Pushkar or Lijiang?

Prices for flights to both Lijiang and Pushkar 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 day
    Pushkar $10
    Lijiang $17
Typical Food Prices in Pushkar

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pushkar are as follows:


  • Lunch
    $2.39

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pushkar

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pushkar.

  • Taste of Pushkar (2 Hour Guided Street Food Tour Experience): $24

Typical Food Prices in Lijiang

For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang

For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pushkar $8.22
    Lijiang $20

Tours and Activities in Pushkar

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pushkar are as follows:

  • 10 Days Rajasthan Heritage and Culture Tour: $1,709
  • 2 hours Sunset Camel Safari Adventure In Pushkar: $36
  • 2 hours Sunset Camel Safari Adventure In Pushkar: $47
  • 4 Days Jaipur Jodhpur Tour with Pushkar: $390
  • 7 - Days Tour of Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Pushkar and Jaipur: $264
  • 7 - Days Tour of Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Pushkar and Jaipur: $348
  • 7-Days Golden Triangle Tour With Tiger & Leopard Safari: $661
  • Afternoon Walk Tour with Sunset & Fire Ritual -The Pushkar Route : $7.00
  • Afternoon Walking tour with Sunset & Arti -The Pushkar Route: $7.19
  • Amazing 3 Nights 4 Days Jaipur with Ajmer Pushkar Tour: $624
  • City Walking Tour-THE Pushkar Route: $6.76
  • Cultural Walk of Pushkar (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13

Tours and Activities in Lijiang

For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Via Ferrata with Zipline Experience in Lijiang: $42
  • One day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour in From Lijiang: $160
  • 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
  • 1-Day Old Town Tour in Lijiang: $166
  • Lijiang Train Station Pick up and Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour : $170
  • 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
  • Beautiful Country road Biking tour to Xinhua village Heqing start from Lijiang: $173
  • Private trekking tour to Wenhai lake from Lijiang half day service: $175
  • Private Jade Dragon Snow Mountains and Naxi Village Tour: $187
  • 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
  • Private Day Tour Tiger Leaping Gorge and Black Dragon Pond from Lijiang: $207
  • 1-Day Lijiang tour with Lijiang Old Town,Black Dragon Pool,Baisha Village,Shuhe: $207

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pushkar $6.68
    Lijiang $7.86


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pushkar and Lijiang, we can see that Lijiang is more expensive. And not only is Pushkar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pushkar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pushkar 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 Lijiang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lijiang than you might in Pushkar.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pushkar Expensive? and Is Lijiang Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Pushkar or Lijiang?

Lijiang has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Pushkar. When comparing the sizes of Pushkar and Lijiang, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.