Which place is cheaper, Lijiang or Amman?
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 Amman or Lijiang?
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 Amman and Lijiang. 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: Amman or Lijiang?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Amman Prices
Jordan PricesLijiang Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $135Lijiang $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in Lijiang is $55. 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 Amman and Lijiang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49Lijiang $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98Lijiang $32
Compare Hotels in Amman and Lijiang
Looking for a hotel in Amman or Lijiang? 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: Amman Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24Lijiang $5.67
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Petra from Amman /Amman Airport: $250
- Transfer From Airport To Amman: $28
- Stress-Free Airport Transfers: Queen Alia to Anywhere in Jordan: $26
- Reliable Door-to-Door Private Transfer Amman ⇆ Dead Sea ⇆ Airport: $40
- Queen Alia Intl Airport Private Transfer to Amman City or Hotels: $20
- Queen Alia International Airport Transfers To Amman, Petra.: $235
- Private Transfer: From Amman City to Airport: $40
- Private Transfer: Amman Airport to Wadi Rum: $133
- Private Transfer: Amman Airport to Aqaba Airport: $153
- Private Transfer from/ to Amman Airport and Petra City: $95
- Private Transfer from Madaba Hotel to Amman Airport: $47
- Private Transfer from Amman to Petra, Wadi Musa: $259
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
- Private Transfer from Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG) to Dali : $149
- Ethnic Costume Photoshoot with Hotel Transfers: $131
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Lijiang?
Prices for flights to both Lijiang and Amman 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 dayAmman $58Lijiang $30
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Food Tour in Downtown: $70
- Women-Led Food Tour Through Amman’s Culinary Scene: $80
- The Best Culture&Food Tour With Majd The Local Guide: $81
- Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman: $106
- Private Panoramic Amman Tour and Local Lunch or Dinner-Wine Taste: $107
- Traditional Cooking Class in Amman with Return Hotel Transfers: $118
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Arak Experience: $140
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32Lijiang $20
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Um Qais Private Tour Enjoy The History And Stunning Scenery.: $130
- 1 Day Tour to Amman Jerash and Ajloun castle : $136
- 1-Night Private Overnight Dead Sea Independent Tour from Amman : $145
- 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $175
- 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $175
- 2 Day Private Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Amman : $215
- 2 Day Tour Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman: $300
- 2 Day Tour of Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman: $250
- 2 Day Tour to Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea from Amman: $200
- 2 Days Group Tour From Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba Dead sea: $395
- 2 Days Ma'in Hot Springs Private Tour: $95
- 2 Days Petra Private Guided Tour: $225
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Baisha Village Private Tour: $245
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- 1-Day Private Tour to Lijiang Highlights: $297
- 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
- 3days Dali Lijiang highlights tour start from Kunming: $700
- 4 Hour Private Lijiang City Highlights Walking Tour: $72
- 7-Day Yunnan Culture & Nature Tour: $1,008
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang: $221
- Beautiful Country road Biking tour to Xinhua village Heqing start from Lijiang: $173
- Biking tour&guide visit Lijiang baisha village market park: $50
- Flexible Lijiang City Highlights Private Day Tour with Lunch: $208
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14Lijiang $7.98
Sample the Local Flavors in Amman
Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Tour in Amman and Boulevard Walking Tour: $93
- Full Day Tour of Ajloun Castle with Cable Car and Wine Tasting : $127
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Lijiang, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East and Lijiang is in Asia, 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 Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Lijiang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Lijiang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or Lijiang?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Lijiang. When comparing the sizes of Amman and Lijiang, 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.
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.