Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Udaipur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Udaipur or Shangri-La?
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 Shangri-La. 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 Shangri-La?
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.
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 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 $33Shangri-La $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Udaipur is $33, 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 Udaipur and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUdaipur $16Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUdaipur $32Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Udaipur and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Udaipur 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: Udaipur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Udaipur $6.98Shangri-La $10
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:
- Udaipur Airport : Private Transfer to/from Udaipur Hotels: $6.00
- Private Transfer From Hotel To Airport: $11
- Udaipur Airport Pick up Transfer: $12
- One Way Transfer Service From Udaipur Hotel To Airport: $13
- One Way Transfer Service From Udaipur Airport To Hotel: $13
- Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel: $14
- Private Transfer From Udaipur Airport To Udaipur Hotel: $16
- Private Transfer From Udaipur Hotel To Udaipur Airport: $17
- Private Transfer Udaipur Hotels To Maharana Pratap Airport UDR Drop: $18
- Udaipur Airport to Hotel or Vice Versa Transfer: $24
- Round Trip Transfers Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace with tickets: $24
- Udaipur Airport Transfer: $30
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 Udaipur or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La 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 $11Shangri-La $19
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: $13
- 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
- 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
- Evening Cooking Session and Dinner with an Indian Family: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Udaipur $10Shangri-La $16
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:
- Private Udaipur Sightseeing Tour by Tuk-Tuk or Car with Driver: $8.00
- Delwara Handicraft Experience: $9.23
- Udaipur Half Day City Tour by Tuk Tuk: $9.60
- Udaipur Walking Tour(2 Hours Guided Walk): $9.84
- Udaipur Night Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $9.84
- Jaipur: Immerse yourself in a full day private tour by tuk-tuk: $9.84
- Experience Indian Food: Learn To Cook with Rekha with full meals: $11
- Private day tours: $11
- Local Market Walking Tour: $11
- Non Touristy Walk, old city & local market walking tour: $11
- Udaipur Guided sightseeing Tour in Three wheeled Tuk Tuk : $12
- Udapiur: Night Walking Tour: $13
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 dayUdaipur $8.92Shangri-La $13
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 Shangri-La, we can see that Shangri-La 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 Shangri-La would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shangri-La 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 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.