Which place is cheaper, Lijiang or Udaipur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Udaipur or Lijiang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Udaipur and Lijiang. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Udaipur or Lijiang?
Udaipur
Udaipur, also known as the "Venice of the East," is becoming increasingly popular as an Indian wedding destination as well as with travelers searching for a romantic and picturesque city, rich with history, scenic areas, and palaces.
The "City of Lakes" is located in south of Rajasthan. There are a total of ten lakes in the lake system, which are connected and sustain water for drinking, irrigation and industrial use, which contributes to another reason for Udaipur's booming tourism: alcohol.
Udaipur has ideal climate and available water to support a liquor plant while a number of other Indian states ban the consumption of liquor altogether. Many local tourists, such as those from the neighboring dry state of Gujarat on the west, visit Udaipur specifically for this reason, especially considering that Gujarati alcohol prices are much higher and liquor must be purchased through the black market. It's no wonder why Udaipur is the destination for celebrations and vacation.
Udaipur has tropical weather and three main seasons, which are summer, monsoon, and winter. Winter, which takes place between September to March, is the most pleasant time to visit for sunny and warm days and cool nights.
Udaipur was also made famous in the James Bond film Octopussy. Several local hotels show the film nightly.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Adventure Tours to India, 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 dayUdaipur $33Lijiang $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Udaipur is $33, 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 Udaipur and Lijiang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUdaipur $16Lijiang $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUdaipur $32Lijiang $30
Compare Hotels in Udaipur and Lijiang
Looking for a hotel in Udaipur 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.
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: Udaipur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Udaipur $6.98Lijiang $5.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Udaipur
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Udaipur:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Udaipur
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Udaipur:
- Private Transfer From Hotel To Airport: $11
- Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel: $14
- Udaipur to jodhpur one Way Transfer: $52
- Udaipur to Ahmedabad private transfers: $38
- Udaipur Full Day Custom Tour with Transfers: $85
- Udaipur City Tour With Next Day Jodhpur Transfer: $72
- Udaipur Airport to Hotel or Vice Versa Transfer: $24
- Udaipur Airport Transfer: $30
- Udaipur Airport Pick up Transfer: $12
- Udaipur Airport : Private Transfer to/from Udaipur Hotels: $6.00
- Udaipur / RaNaK PUR / jodhpur one Way Transfer: $55
- Transfer From Udaipur To Jaipur Via Chittorgarh Fort: $85
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 Udaipur or Lijiang?
Prices for flights to both Lijiang and Udaipur 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 dayUdaipur $11Lijiang $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Udaipur
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Udaipur.
- Private Traditional Dinner with an Indian Family in Udaipur: $8.99
- 4-Hour Indian Food Cooking Class with full Meals: $12
- Enjoyable,homely & mom 's delicious cooking classes: $16
- Durga Cooking Class: $17
- mamta cooking class awarded by tripadvisor : $23
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $25
- Culinary Adventure: Make Pizza, Sip Wine At Royal Repast: $39
- Secret Cooking Session with the bheel Tribe: $44
- 3 Hours Indian Cooking Session at Local Home (Udaipur): $50
- Private Rajasthani Cooking Class in an Udaipur Home: $51
- Jodhpur to Osian camel safari / Dinner At Dhani: $60
- Jodhpur, Osian camel ride &Dinner At Dhani (country side): $60
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Udaipur $10Lijiang $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Udaipur
Here are a few typical costs in Udaipur for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Palace Entrance Fee$1.20
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Lake Boat Tour$2.39
Tours and Activities in Udaipur
Here are a few actual costs in Udaipur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full Day Udaipur City Tour by Private Vehicle: $92
- Local Sightseeing - Udaipur ," Travel With Chinmay ".: $80
- 3 Days Private Udaipur City Tour With Kumbhalgarh Fort & Ranakpur Jain Temple : $125
- 3 Days Private Udaipur Highlights Tour: $90
- 3 Days Private Udaipur Tour: $110
- 3 Night 4 Days Udaipur And Jodhpur Tour: $135
- 3 Night 4 Days Udaipur And Jodhpur Tour By Car & Driver: $180
- 3-Days Tour of Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh & Ranakpur with Jodhpur Drop: $120
- 4 Night 5 Days Udaipur And Jodhpur Tour By Car & Driver: $162
- 6 - Days Udaipur and Mount Abu Tour: $300
- 6 Night 7 Days Udaipur,Jodhpur & Jaisalmer Tour From Udaipur : $275
- 7 - Days Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur Tour: $246
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUdaipur $8.92Lijiang $7.86
Sample the Local Flavors in Udaipur
Also in Udaipur, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Uaipur (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $20
- Pub Crawl Udaipur (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $35
- 3-Hour Pub Crawl: $39
- Pub Crawl Udaipur: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Udaipur and Lijiang, we can see that Lijiang is more expensive. And not only is Udaipur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Udaipur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Udaipur 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 Udaipur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Udaipur Expensive? and Is Lijiang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Udaipur or Lijiang?
Lijiang has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Udaipur. When comparing the sizes of Udaipur 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.
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.