Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Mount Kailash?
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 Mount Kailash or Guangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mount Kailash or Guangzhou? 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: Mount Kailash or Guangzhou?
Mount Kailash
The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Mount Kailash Prices
China PricesGuangzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMount Kailash $90Guangzhou $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $90, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $104. 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 Mount Kailash and Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMount Kailash $27Guangzhou $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMount Kailash $54Guangzhou $116
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Guangzhou? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mount Kailash $32Guangzhou $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Canton Fair Private Transfer between Guangzhou City Center and Pazhou Complex : $32
- Chimelong International Circus Ticket with Transfer: $80
- Guangzhou : Private One-Way Transfers to/from Baiyun Airport(CAN): $30
- Guangzhou Airport & Train Station Private Transfer English Driver: $32
- Guangzhou Airport (CAN) to Guangzhou Round-Trip Private Transfer: $74
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $170
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Guangzhou Airport: Private Transfer to/from Guangzhou: $24
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) to Guangzhou City - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) to Guangzhou City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $74
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , To Guangzhou Transfer,Pickup: $59
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service, To Dongguan Transfer: $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou and Mount Kailash 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 dayMount Kailash $43Guangzhou $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Shenzhen Cantonese Dim Sum Cooking Class with Lunch: $86
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou: $179
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Morning Tea, Cantonese Opera, and Food Tour: $183
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
- Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Din Tai Feng Dinner: $199
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mount Kailash $16Guangzhou $18
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou：New Cultural Landmark Ticket -Explore Tang Style: $2.56
- 2,000-Year-Old Wonder-Nanyue King’s Tomb Ticket: $3.19
- Reputable Private Guangzhou Tour Guide Service by Xaq: $5.00
- Cantonese Heritage Tour with Key Cultural Stops: $6.74
- Discover Private Tour of Culture, Food & Pearl River: $6.99
- Pearl River 1-hour Night Cruise (Optional Piers): $13
- Foshan Classic Old Town Tour : $15
- Private Guangzhou Tour with Comfortable Transportation: $16
- Lychee Bay River Cruise: $24
- Grandview Museum of Nature Science Ticket: $25
- Pick Up Service and Tour for Canton Culture and Food: $26
- Roundtrip Cruise Night View from Canton Tower: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMount Kailash $2.80Guangzhou $14
When comparing the travel costs between Mount Kailash and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mount Kailash Expensive? and Is Guangzhou 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.