Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Yogyakarta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Yogyakarta or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Yogyakarta or Shangri-La? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Yogyakarta or Shangri-La?
Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta, also called Yogya, Jogja, and Jogjakarta, is Java's hub of culture and art, and is the top-visited destination on the island. While Jakarta is the most populated and industrially-developed city in Indonesia, Yogya has managed to progress without losing its cultural charm, as illustrated in its well-kept traditional Indonesian architecture.
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 The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, 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 dayYogyakarta $58Shangri-La $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Yogyakarta is $58, 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 Yogyakarta and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYogyakarta $37Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYogyakarta $74Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta 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: Yogyakarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yogyakarta $1.33Shangri-La $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta
Also for Yogyakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer In or Out Airport Yogyakarta: $9.61
- Private Transfer Airport Yogyakarta (JOG) to All City Destination: $11
- Yogyakarta Private Departure Transfer- Yogyakarta Hotel to Airport: $20
- Private Transfer From or To Yogyakarta Airport: $24
- Ramayana Ballet Dance Show with Transfers: $25
- Private Transfer From/To Yogyakarta Airport: $26
- Yogyakarta Airport : for pick up or transfer service: $28
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport YIA To City Center: $29
- Borobudur 5-Hour Guided Tour with Climb-up Access & Transfer: $29
- Jomblang Cave Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $30
- Yogyakarta International Airport to Hotel - Arrival Transfer: $32
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Yogyakarta City: $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:
- Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel : $149
- Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Yogyakarta 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 dayYogyakarta $12Shangri-La $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yogyakarta
For Yogyakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Morning Food Tour with Tasting: $22
- Kotagede Night Food Tour: $27
- Yogyakarta Evening Walking and Food Tour: $30
- Yogyakarta : Guided City Walk and Food Tour: $32
- Prambanan temple afternoon tour and dinner: $34
- Prawirotaman Night Food Tour: $35
- Prawirotaman Night Food Tour: $35
- Night Walking and Food Tour: $37
- Ramayana Ballet Performance with Dinner: $38
- Yogyakarta Cooking Class and Market Tour : $40
- Small-Group Walking and Food Tour by Night in Yogyakarta: $40
- Yogyakarta Day Food Tour: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yogyakarta $16Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta
For Yogyakarta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Obelix Hills Entry Ticket: $1.52
- Chicken Church at Karangrejo Village Admission Ticket: $1.89
- Java Puppets Museum Admission Ticket: $2.50
- 6 hours Borobudur temple climb up tour only.: $19
- Jomblang cave Tour only.: $19
- Prambanan Afternoon Tour Discover Magic sunset: $19
- Yogyakarta : Jomblang Cave tour with local Guide: $20
- Walking Tour of Yogyakarta's Oldest Neighbourhood: $21
- Yogyakarta City Tour: $21
- Authentic Yogya Bicycle Tour: $22
- Jomblang Cave Tour: $22
- Guided Tour to Borobudur with Full Access: $23
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 City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYogyakarta $4.93Shangri-La $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yogyakarta and Shangri-La, we can see that Yogyakarta is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Shangri-La would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shangri-La 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 Yogyakarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yogyakarta than you might in Shangri-La.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yogyakarta 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.