A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hobart vs. Shangri-La for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hobart or Shangri-La?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hobart and Shangri-La 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: Hobart or Shangri-La?

Hobart

Hobart is the capital city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. It is small compared to the mainland's larger cities and has a cooler climate with four distinct seasons. Hobart is also the second oldest capital, behind Sydney, with remnants of its past visible in old sandstone warehouses now home to cafes and galleries, as well as a historic district with narrow lanes and colonial-era cottages.

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 Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Hobart?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hobart is $156, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $61. 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 Hobart and Shangri-La in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hobart $77
    Shangri-La $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hobart $154
    Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Hobart and Shangri-La

Looking for a hotel in Hobart 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.

Hotels in Hobart


Hotels in Shangri-La


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: Hobart Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hobart $28
    Shangri-La $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hobart

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

  • Hobart Airport: Express Bus Transfer to Hobart City: $15
  • Grand Cayman Shared Airport Transfer: $40
  • George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $152
  • George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $152

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:

  • Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
  • Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel : $149

Is it cheaper to fly into Hobart or Shangri-La?

Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Hobart 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
    Hobart $49
    Shangri-La $33

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hobart $23
    Shangri-La $16

Tours and Activities in Hobart

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hobart.

  • Admission Ticket to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary: $23
  • Morning River Cruise: $23
  • 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket: $30
  • From Mt Wellington Pinnacle 2 Hour Small Group Tour: $36
  • 48 Hour Hobart City Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $36
  • Mt Wellington Ultimate Afternoon Tour: $40
  • 3-Hour City Sightseeing Tour: $40
  • Historic Lunch Cruise: $43
  • Mount Wellington and Hobart Sightseeing Combo Ticket: $56
  • Rum and Beer Tour with Lunch: $65
  • nipaluna Half-Day Highlights Tour: $65
  • Historic Richmond Village Half-Day Coach Tour: $69

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 Songzanlin and Potatso National Park Tour: $280
  • 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
  • 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: $240
  • Shangri-La Day Tour Songzanlin Monastery and Napa Sea: $67
  • Tibetan Village Scenic E-Bike Tour: $117

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hobart $15
    Shangri-La $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Hobart

Also in Hobart, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Cascade Brewery Historic Tour: $17
  • Cascade Brewery Experience: $26
  • Signature Wine Tour - Hobart & SE Tasmania: $145
  • Moorilla's Big Day Out at Mona - Wine Tasting and Lunch: $165
  • Tasmania: Private Distillers Reserve Distillery Tour: $224


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hobart and Shangri-La, we can see that Hobart is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hobart is in Pacific and Shangri-La 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 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 Hobart would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hobart 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 Hobart Expensive? and Is Shangri-La Expensive?.