Which place is cheaper, Sichuan or Tibet?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tibet or Sichuan?
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 Sichuan 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 Sichuan?
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.
Sichuan
The Sichuan Provence of China is a fairly large Provence in the south central area near Tibet. The area has a wealth of history, natural beauty, and is famous for their cuisine which is known worldwide. You'll find that most young people in larger cities speak some English, although the majority of the area speaks a variant of Mandarin.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTibet $69Sichuan $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Tibet is $69, while the average daily cost in Sichuan is $47. 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 Sichuan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTibet $32Sichuan $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTibet $64Sichuan $40
Compare Hotels in Tibet and Sichuan
Looking for a hotel in Tibet or Sichuan? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tibet $18Sichuan $5.51
Is it cheaper to fly into Tibet or Sichuan?
Prices for flights to both Sichuan 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
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Food Meals for one dayTibet $25Sichuan $20
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tibet $15Sichuan $16
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
Tours and Activities in Sichuan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sichuan.
- 2 days Mt. Siguniang+Wolong panda tour from Chengdu: $369
- 4-Day private tour to Chengdu, Leshan and Mount Emei: $738
- Sechuan: Big Panda Volunteer Day tour: $345
- Sichuan opera ticket at (Shuxi Tianxia)Tianfu Square: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTibet $4.58Sichuan $3.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tibet and Sichuan, we can see that Tibet is more expensive. And not only is Sichuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sichuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sichuan 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 Tibet would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tibet than you might in Sichuan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tibet Expensive? and Is Sichuan 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.