Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Singapore?
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 Singapore or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Singapore 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: Singapore or Shangri-La?
Singapore
Singapore is a city-state that was originally founded in 1819 as a British trading colony. Today it is a very international country that is incredibly modern and cosmopolitan. There is a strong financial industry in this country, and a correspondingly strong work ethic. It is one of the most prosperous cities in the world, and has one of the world's busiest ports.
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 Budget Tours to Singapore, The Best Tours for Seniors to Singapore, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Singapore Prices
Singapore PricesShangri-La Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySingapore $179Shangri-La $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Singapore is $179, 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 Singapore and Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSingapore $101Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSingapore $202Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Singapore and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Singapore 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Singapore $11Shangri-La $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Singapore
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Singapore:
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Taxi to Airport$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Singapore
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Singapore:
- Attractions Shared Transfers from Hotel: $12
- Changi Airport (SIN) Private One-Way Transfer: $23
- Changi Airport (SIN) Private Transfer to Singapore/Johor Bahru: $24
- Private Transfer: Singapore to Sentosa Island: $26
- Private Airport Transfer in Singapore: $29
- Changi Airport to/from Hotel Private Transfer: $29
- Singapore Changi Airport: Singapore Private Airport Transfer: $30
- Marina Bay Cruise Centre or SCC to Changi Airport Transfer: $30
- City Experience + Roundtrip Transfers: $31
- Private Attraction Transfers for Singapore: $31
- Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Singapore - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Singapore Airport: Shared Arrival or Departure Car Transfer : $33
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 Singapore or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Singapore 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 daySingapore $50Shangri-La $33
Typical Food Prices in Singapore
Some typical examples of dining costs in Singapore are as follows:
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Breakfast$4.75
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Sugarcane Juice$1.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Singapore
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Singapore.
- Secrets of Singapore Kick Scooter Tour with Dinner: $53
- Chinatown Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $54
- Secrets of Singapore Kick Scooter Tour with Dinner: $55
- Singapore Food Tours - Chinatown Complex Hawker: $58
- Authentic Singapore Street Food Tour: $60
- Plant-Based Food Tour with Local Guide: $61
- Small Group: Michelin and Local Hawker Food Tour: $68
- Hawker Center Street Food Tour with Guide: $68
- Guided Street Food Tour at Night: $74
- Local Hawker Food Tour with Tastings: $74
- Hawker Culture Food Tour and Sightseeing: $75
- Eat and Snap in Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $76
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Singapore $34Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Singapore
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Singapore are as follows:
- Artoholic A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- Follow the Money: A self-guided audio tour of Singapore's Financial District: $5.00
- Science Center E-Ticket: $6.43
- Peranakan Museum Admission Ticket: $6.51
- The Civic District with Singapore Boy Hossan Leong: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Indian Heritage Centre Entrance Ticket: $7.75
- Gardens by the Bay Bundle Entry Ticket: $7.75
- Outdoor Audio Tour at Gardens by the Bay: $8.23
- BikingSG Best of Take in the sights on a relaxed audio cycling tour: $8.31
- National Orchid Garden Entry Tickets: $8.37
- Singapore Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.40
- Indian Heritage Centre Admission Ticket: $8.51
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 daySingapore $28Shangri-La $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Singapore
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Singapore:
- Party Singapore Bespoke Pub Crawl: $30
- Singapore Pub Crawl: $36
- Singapore Pub Crawl - Party like a Local: $39
- Brass Lion Gin Distillery Tour Ticket: $41
- LeVeL33 Rooftop Brewery Tour & Craft Beer Tasting: $77
- LeVeL33 Craft-Brewery Restaurant & Lounge Package: $192
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Singapore and Shangri-La, we can see that Singapore 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 Singapore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Singapore 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 Singapore 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.