Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Taupo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Taupo or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Taupo 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: Taupo or Shangri-La?
Taupo
Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.
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 G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaupo $111Shangri-La $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Taupo is $111, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $46. 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 Taupo and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaupo $62Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaupo $124Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Taupo and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Taupo 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: Taupo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taupo $25Shangri-La $10
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 Taupo or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Taupo 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 dayTaupo $24Shangri-La $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taupo $35Shangri-La $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Taupo
Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Bungy Jumping$152
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Jet Boating$56
Tours and Activities in Taupo
Here are a few actual costs in Taupo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Taupo Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Marvelous Circus: $22
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Candy Cottage: $22
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - Cabin in the Woods: $23
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Hunting Lodge: $23
- Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $27
- Maori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise: $27
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 10.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $29
- Lake Māori Rock Carvings Scenic Boat Cruise: $29
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 8.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $29
- Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave Entry Ticket: $29
- Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $30
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 Highlights Mini Private 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
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $199
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaupo $13Shangri-La $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Taupo
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:
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Wine$5.05
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taupo and Shangri-La, we can see that Taupo is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Taupo 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 Taupo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taupo 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 Taupo 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.