Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Islamabad?
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 Islamabad 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 Islamabad 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: Islamabad or Shangri-La?
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, specially built in the 1960's to replace the former capital, Karachi. Most of the city's population are employees of the government, though many people come from all over Pakistan to enjoy the city's peaceful atmosphere and green spaces, museums, and monuments.
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 Pakistan, The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Islamabad Prices
Pakistan PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIslamabad $51Shangri-La $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Islamabad is $51, 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 Islamabad and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIslamabad $20Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIslamabad $40Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Islamabad and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Islamabad 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: Islamabad Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Islamabad $7.49Shangri-La $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad
Also for Islamabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Islamabad International Airport Transfer: $35
- Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
- Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
- Islamabad Airport Transfers : $54
- Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
- Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
- Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55
- Islamabad International Airport Departure Drop off Transfer : $55
- Karachi Airport Transfer, Airport Pick and Drop, Rent a Car KHI: $60
- Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
- Islamabad Round Trip Airport Transfer & Customizable Day Trip: $95
- Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $110
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 Islamabad or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Islamabad 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 dayIslamabad $25Shangri-La $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Islamabad $9.25Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Islamabad
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Islamabad.
- Islamabad and Rawalpindi Sightseeing Tour: $70
- Islamabad City Tour : $72
- Full Day Islamabad & Taxila Tour: $78
- Half Day Private Instagram Guided City Tour : $80
- Exclusive Luxury Private Tour: Discover the Gems of Islamabad: $80
- Private Tour: Islamabad Full Day Customized Exploration Tour: $90
- Islamabad Offbeat, Private City Tour Islamabad: $91
- Guided Top 5 Wonders Exploration Tour: $95
- Best of Islamabad City Landmarks Exploration Tour (Private & Guided).: $95
- Islamabad Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $95
- Best of One-Day Sightseeing Tour: $95
- Best of Islamabad Half Day Tour (Morn & Eve Slots): $100
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIslamabad $2.82Shangri-La $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Islamabad and Shangri-La, we can see that Shangri-La is more expensive. And not only is Islamabad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Islamabad would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Islamabad 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 Shangri-La would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shangri-La than you might in Islamabad.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Islamabad 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.