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

Should you visit Jodhpur 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 Jodhpur 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: Jodhpur or Shangri-La?

Jodhpur

Jodhpur is a city in the Rajasthan state of India. This city is located on the outskirts of the Thar Desert and is known for having sunshine almost every day of the year. Rao Jodha, an ancient Rajput chief, founded the city in 1459 AD. Many of the houses in the city are shades of blue, hence the reason that the city is sometimes referred to as the Blue City.

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 Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Jodhpur?

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

  • Jodhpur Prices
    India Prices
    Shangri-La Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Jodhpur $42
    Shangri-La $61

The average daily cost (per person) in Jodhpur is $42, 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 Jodhpur and Shangri-La in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jodhpur $14
    Shangri-La $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jodhpur $28
    Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Jodhpur and Shangri-La

Looking for a hotel in Jodhpur 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 Jodhpur


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: Jodhpur Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jodhpur $6.18
    Shangri-La $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jodhpur

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jodhpur are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $0.34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jodhpur

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

  • Private Transfer From Jodhpur Hotel To Jodhpur Airport: $8.00
  • Affordable Jodhpur Airport Transfer: $15
  • Private Transfer From Jodhpur To Rohet Garh: $21
  • Private Jodhpur Arrival Transfer Airport to Hotel/Accommodation: $23
  • Jodhpur - Arrival Transfer from airport to Hotel: $25
  • One Way Transfer From Jaipur To Pushkar: $28
  • One Way Transfer Service From Jodhpur To Pushkar: $31
  • One-Way Transfer: Jodhpur/Jaisalmer/Udaipur: $31
  • Jodhpur To Pushkar One Way Private Transfer: $34
  • Jaisalmer & Jodhpur One Way Transfer With Option: $37
  • Private Transfer From Jodhpur To Jaipur : $38
  • One Way Transfer From Jodhpur To Pushkar: $39

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 Jodhpur or Shangri-La?

Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Jodhpur 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
    Jodhpur $21
    Shangri-La $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jodhpur

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

  • chai and pakora cooking class: $12
  • Experience Indian Food Cooking Session At Local Family: $20
  • Private Cooking Class in Jodhpur With Pick Up & Drop Off: $21
  • Private Cooking Class In Jodhpur With Family: $22
  • street food tour with over 8 food tastings: $23
  • Jodhpur : Dakshika Private Cooking Class: $24
  • Jodhpur Food Tour: $25
  • 3 Hours Indian Cooking Session At Local Home: $25
  • Jodhpur 11 Dishes Cooking Class With REKHA Pick Up & Drop OF: $26
  • Vegetarian Cooking Class with a Local Family: $28
  • Jodhpur Private Cooking Class With Family: $29
  • Traditional Food of Rajasthan Cooking Class Experience : $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jodhpur $11
    Shangri-La $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jodhpur

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


  • Fort Entrance for Two
    $5.68
  • Astrology Reading
    $3.97

Tours and Activities in Jodhpur

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

  • Taj Mahal and Agra fort tour with iconic photoshoot: $4.00
  • "Taj Mahal" Tour by India's Fastest Train (Gatiman Express): $5.64
  • Agra: Skip-The-Line Sunrise Taj Mahal with Mausoleum Tour: $5.64
  • Agra: Sunrise Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Tour: $6.76
  • Heritage blue city walking tour in jodhpur.: $6.76
  • From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra Tour with Boat Ride & Lunch: $7.89
  • Jodhpur Bluecity Heritage Walking Tour: $9.02
  • Private Jodhpur Blue City Walking Tour with Guide: $10
  • Blue City Heritage Private Walking Tour With Pickup and Drop-Off: $11
  • walk to bluecity heritage tour: $11
  • Blue City Heritage Walking Tour With Pick Up & Drop Off: $11
  • walk to bluecity heritage tour: $11

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
    Jodhpur $9.70
    Shangri-La $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jodhpur and Shangri-La, we can see that Shangri-La is more expensive. And not only is Jodhpur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jodhpur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jodhpur 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 Jodhpur.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jodhpur Expensive? and Is Shangri-La Expensive?.