A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Xigatse vs. Nelson for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Xigatse or Nelson?

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 Nelson 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 Nelson?

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.

Nelson

Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Xigatse?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Xigatse is $61, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $94. 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 Nelson in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Xigatse $28
    Nelson $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Xigatse $56
    Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Xigatse and Nelson

Looking for a hotel in Xigatse or Nelson? 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 Xigatse


Hotels in Nelson


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: Nelson Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Xigatse $12
    Nelson $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Xigatse or Nelson?

Prices for flights to both Nelson 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Xigatse $24
    Nelson $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Xigatse $14
    Nelson $24

Tours and Activities in Nelson

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:

  • Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
  • Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $121
  • Full-Day Sailing Adventure in the Abel Tasman National Park: $159
  • Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
  • Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
  • Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $75
  • Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
  • Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $71
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $65
  • Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $80
  • Kahurangi National Park and Mt Owen Helicopter Tour: $1,948
  • SKYWIRE Experience: $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Xigatse $3.15
    Nelson $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:

  • Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $97


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xigatse and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nelson 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 Nelson Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Xigatse or Nelson?

Xigatse has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Xigatse and Nelson, 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.