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

Should you visit Xigatse or Surfers Paradise?

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 Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise?

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.

Surfers Paradise

A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise is $104. 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 Surfers Paradise in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Xigatse $28
    Surfers Paradise $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Xigatse $56
    Surfers Paradise $132
Compare Hotels in Xigatse and Surfers Paradise

Looking for a hotel in Xigatse or Surfers Paradise? 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 Surfers Paradise


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Xigatse $12
    Surfers Paradise $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise

Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Gold Coast Hot Air Balloon + Winery Breakfast + Return Transfers: $291
  • Private Transfer to Brisbane/BNE Airport from Gold Coast/OOL Airport( 1-7 pax): $229
  • All-Inclusive Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise (Gold Coast Transfer): $149
  • Gold Coast Airport Transfers Corporate Chauffeurs Gold Coast: $119
  • Private Transfer from Brisbane Airports to Surfers Paradise: $106
  • Luxury Private Transfer between Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast city (1-7pax) : $89
  • Private Transfer from Gold Coast Airport - Surfers Paradise: $50
  • Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Xigatse or Surfers Paradise?

Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise 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
    Surfers Paradise $26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise

For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $78

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Xigatse $14
    Surfers Paradise $23

Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Surf Lesson
    $78

Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise

For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Evening Rainforest & Glow Worm Experience - Small Group Tour: $79
  • 1.5hr Jetski Tour with island stopover - SELF DRIVE - NO LICENCE NEEDED: $185
  • 2.5hrs Jetski Tour with island stopover / Self Drive / Surfers Paradise: $259
  • Barefoot Luxury Mount Tamborine Winery Tour from Gold Coast: $151
  • Body Massage Experience in Gold Coast : $98
  • Buffet Lunch Sightseeing Cruise: $59
  • Catch a Crab Tour with Optional Seafood Lunch: $53
  • Glow Worms - Nocturnal Rainforest/Waterfall Adventure: $72
  • Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $30
  • Gold Coast City Lights Cruise: $37
  • Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise Day Pass: $30
  • Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $33

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Xigatse $3.15
    Surfers Paradise $11


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


Which is Bigger, Xigatse or Surfers Paradise?

Xigatse has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Xigatse and Surfers Paradise, 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.