Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Nara?
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 Nara or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nara or Shangri-La? 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: Nara or Shangri-La?
Nara
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Nara Prices
Japan PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNara $111Shangri-La $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Nara is $111, 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 Nara and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNara $54Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNara $108Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Nara and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Nara 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: Nara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nara $6.04Shangri-La $11
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 Nara or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Nara 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 dayNara $51Shangri-La $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
- Handmade Soba and Tempura Cooking Class in Nara: $49
- Udon and Tempura Cooking Class in Nara: $52
- Nara Personalized Half Day Food Tour with a Local Guide: $160
- Taste of Nara A Guided Half Day Food Tour Tailored to Your Taste: $160
- Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nara $8.09Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Nara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
- Gripped Sumi Ink Experience at a Historic Workshop in Nara: $23
- Tea Ceremony Experience in Nara 3 Minutes from Nara Station: $28
- Nara Craft Tours - local Craft beers tour experience in Nara City: $28
- Naramachi walking tour with Local: $31
- Nara Highlight Walking Tour with Furoshiki Experience with Lunch: $35
- Samurai Spirit Kendo Experience【Nara】: $41
- All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $45
- Traditional Kimono Experience in Historic Nara(with Hair Styling): $48
- Uji Tea Ceremony and UNESCO Heritage Walking Tour: $56
- Nara English Guided Walking Tour (All Entrance Fee Included): $62
- Perfect Nara Park Half-Day Bus Tour with English Speaking Guide: $69
- Kyoto: Tea Museum and Tsuen Teahouse Guided Tour: $73
Tours and Activities in Shangri-La
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shangri-La are as follows:
- Shangri-La Day Tour Songzanlin Monastery and Napa Sea: $67
- Tibetan Village Scenic E-Bike Tour: $117
- 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
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $240
- 1 Day Shangri-La Songzanlin and Potatso National Park Tour: $280
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNara $12Shangri-La $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nara and Shangri-La, we can see that Nara is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Nara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nara 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 Nara 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.