A Travel Price Comparison for China Tibet vs. Shaanxi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tibet or Shaanxi?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tibet and Shaanxi 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: Tibet or Shaanxi?

Tibet

An autonomous region of China, Tibet is known to be the highest place on Earth with the Himalayas and Mount Everest located right along its western border. The area has long been inhabited by Tibetans, whose culture remains strong and central to the place itself, deeply embedded in religion. Most visitors come to Tibet to trek the mountains and see its holy places, monasteries, and temples dedicated to Tibetan Buddhism.

Shaanxi

Shaanxi is a province of central China-central geographically, culturally, and historically. Its ancient capital, Xian (or Xi'an), was a starting point for the Silk Road and is also famous as the home to the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, an archaeological site known for its thousands of clay soldiers called the Terracotta Army. Other attractions include the Hukou waterfalls, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Shaanxi History Museum, and the Great Wall of China on Huashan Mountain.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Budget Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing.


Which place is cheaper, Shaanxi or Tibet?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tibet is $70, while the average daily cost in Shaanxi is $95. 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 Tibet and Shaanxi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tibet $32
    Shaanxi $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tibet $64
    Shaanxi $122
Compare Hotels in Tibet and Shaanxi

Looking for a hotel in Tibet or Shaanxi? 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 Tibet


Hotels in Shaanxi


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tibet $18
    Shaanxi $12

Is it cheaper to fly into Tibet or Shaanxi?

Prices for flights to both Shaanxi and Tibet 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
    Tibet $25
    Shaanxi $12

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tibet $15
    Shaanxi $35

Tours and Activities in Tibet

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

  • From Lhasa: 14-Day Tour with 3-Day Trek Around Mount Everest: $2,425

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tibet $4.60
    Shaanxi $7.28


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

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


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