Which place is cheaper, Aoraki Mount Cook or Xigatse?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Xigatse or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xigatse and Aoraki Mount Cook 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: Xigatse or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Xigatse
The second largest city in Tibet behind Lhasa, Xigatse, commonly known as Shigatse, is home to sights and attractions like the Tashilhunpo Monastery, plenty of markets, and the ruins of Shigatse temple. All places of interest are fairly walkable, though auto-rickshaws are also available.
Aoraki Mount Cook
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is located on the South Island of New Zealand. It was declared a national park in 1953 to protect and preserve the landscape. The park is home to the country's highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook. In Maori, Aoraki means, "cloud piercer", and the English name, Mt Cook, refers to the navigator James Cook, who discovered New Zealand in the 18th century. Mt Cook was the training location for Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to summit Everest in 1953. Other peaks in the park include Mount Tasman, Mount Sefton, and Mount Hicks. Not only can you find lush greenery all over the park, but also, glaciers cover 40% of the parks area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.
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Xigatse Prices
China PricesAoraki Mount Cook Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXigatse $84Aoraki Mount Cook $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Xigatse is $84, while the average daily cost in Aoraki Mount Cook is $121. 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 Xigatse and Aoraki Mount Cook in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXigatse $30Aoraki Mount Cook $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXigatse $60Aoraki Mount Cook $116
Compare Hotels in Xigatse and Aoraki Mount Cook
Looking for a hotel in Xigatse or Aoraki Mount Cook? 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: Xigatse Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xigatse $13Aoraki Mount Cook $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Xigatse or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Prices for flights to both Aoraki Mount Cook and Xigatse 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 dayXigatse $44Aoraki Mount Cook $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xigatse $14Aoraki Mount Cook $23
Tours and Activities in Aoraki Mount Cook
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Aoraki Mount Cook.
- Day Tours from Mount Cook: $119
- Gibbston Valley Wines - Cave Tour: $17
- Kawarau Gorge NZs Latest E bike and Wine Adventure: $127
- Mount Cook to Queenstown Day Tour: $113
- Mt Cook & Tasman Glacier lookout Small Group Tour from Queenstown: $163
- Mt Cook Day Tour from Wānaka: $151
- Mt Cook Small Group Scenic Day Tour from Queenstown: $163
- Mt Cook Stargazing Experience: $71
- Mt Cook Tour: Finish at Christchurch, Queenstown or Dunedin: $1,042
- Mt Cook Tour: Finish at Queenstown, Christchurch or Dunedin: $1,411
- Mt Cook to Christchurch One-Way Small Group Tour via Lake Tekapo: $112
- Mt Cook to Lake Tekapo Small Group Tour (one-way): $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXigatse $3.37Aoraki Mount Cook $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Aoraki Mount Cook
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Aoraki Mount Cook:
- Kinross Winery: Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Experience: $27
- Kinross Winery: Premium Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience: $44
- Kinross Winery: Wild Irishman Wine Tasting Experience: $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xigatse and Aoraki Mount Cook, we can see that Aoraki Mount Cook is more expensive. And not only is Xigatse much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Xigatse is in Asia and Aoraki Mount Cook is in Pacific, 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 Xigatse would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Xigatse 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 Aoraki Mount Cook would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aoraki Mount Cook than you might in Xigatse.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Xigatse Expensive? and Is Aoraki Mount Cook 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.