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

Should you visit Tiberias or Lijiang?

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

Should I visit Tiberias or Lijiang? 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: Tiberias or Lijiang?

Tiberias

Tiberias is a major tourist destination in Israel. It's positioned on the western side of the Sea of Galilee and is a popular spot for Israeli and international tourists alike. The town itself offers great views of the beautiful blue waters and the surrounding green hills. Tiberias is also considered to be one of the Jewish Four Holy Cities. Many people also use Tiberias as a jumping off point to explore the Golan Heights area.

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 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Jerusalem, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Lijiang or Tiberias?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tiberias is $87, 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 Tiberias and Lijiang in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tiberias $55
    Lijiang $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tiberias $110
    Lijiang $30
Compare Hotels in Tiberias and Lijiang

Looking for a hotel in Tiberias 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 Tiberias


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: Tiberias Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tiberias $4.55
    Lijiang $5.58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang

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

  • Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
  • Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
  • Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali : $149
  • Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
  • Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel: $149

Is it cheaper to fly into Tiberias or Lijiang?

Prices for flights to both Lijiang and Tiberias 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
    Tiberias $28
    Lijiang $17
Typical Food Prices in Tiberias

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tiberias:


  • Lunch for Two
    $5.30
  • Pastry
    $1.86

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.
    Tiberias $10
    Lijiang $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tiberias

Here are a few typical costs in Tiberias for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Two Bikes for Day
    $32

Tours and Activities in Tiberias

Here are a few actual costs in Tiberias for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Culinary Day Tour of the Galilee: $287
  • Haifa Shore Excursion: Nazareth and the Galilee - for cruise ship guests only: $115
  • Safed Wine & Cheese Tour: $250
  • Shabbat Experience in Tzfat with Wine Pairing: $160

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
  • 4 Hour Private Lijiang City Highlights Walking Tour: $72
  • Half-Day Private Tour Tiger Leaping Gorge in Lijiang : $106
  • Private Tour: Jade Dragon Village and Baisha Village via Bicycle: $158
  • 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
  • 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
  • Lijiang Train Station Pick up and Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour : $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
  • Country Biking tour to lashi lake Lamaism temple baisha village from Lijiang: $176

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tiberias $17
    Lijiang $7.86


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

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


Which is Bigger, Tiberias or Lijiang?

Lijiang has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Tiberias. When comparing the sizes of Tiberias 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.