Town in Yunnan, China
Cost of living in Shangri-La
How much a month costs in Shangri-La
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $819–1,340 (¥5,500–9,000).
Prices in Shangri-La
Typical 2026 ranges in CNY, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | CNY | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ¥40–80 | $6.0–11.9 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ¥200–450 | $30–67 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ¥20–35 | $3.0–5.2 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ¥60–130 | $8.9–19.4 |
| Cappuccino | ¥25–40 | $3.7–6.0 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ¥15–35 | $2.2–5.2 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ¥1–2 | $0.15–0.30 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ¥10–20 | $1.5–3.0 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ¥30–100 | $4.5–14.9 |
Value for money: 85/100
A value score of 85/100 means Shangri-La gives more quality of life per dollar than 84% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 64/100. It's the 9th most affordable of 30 places we cover in China.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across China
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Guilin | $670–1,040 | 93/100 |
| Yangshuo | $670–1,040 | 93/100 |
| Lijiang | $745–1,190 | 91/100 |
| Pingyao | $745–1,270 | 86/100 |
| Kashgar | $745–1,270 | 68/100 |
| Zhangjiajie | $819–1,270 | 82/100 |
| Harbin | $819–1,270 | 82/100 |
| Dali | $819–1,340 | 87/100 |
| Shangri-La | $819–1,340 | 85/100 |
| Dunhuang | $819–1,340 | 80/100 |
| Changsha | $894–1,490 | 74/100 |
| Xi'an | $968–1,490 | 71/100 |
| Chongqing | $968–1,490 | 76/100 |
| Huangshan | $968–1,490 | 77/100 |
| Kunming | $968–1,640 | 79/100 |
| Chengdu | $1,040–1,640 | 73/100 |
| Suzhou | $1,040–1,640 | 68/100 |
| Jiuzhaigou | $1,040–1,640 | 69/100 |
| Wuhan | $1,040–1,640 | 66/100 |
| Sanya | $1,040–1,790 | 73/100 |
| Qingdao | $1,120–1,790 | 65/100 |
| Tianjin | $1,120–1,790 | 62/100 |
| Xiamen | $1,190–2,090 | 62/100 |
| Nanjing | $1,190–2,090 | 55/100 |
| Guangzhou | $1,270–2,090 | 60/100 |
| Hangzhou | $1,270–2,090 | 54/100 |
| Shenzhen | $1,490–2,380 | 50/100 |
| Lhasa | $1,490–2,380 | 38/100 |
| Beijing | $1,640–2,680 | 34/100 |
| Shanghai | $1,940–3,280 | 22/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Shangri-La
Similar safety, lower cost, in East Asia.
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Shangri-La?
About $447–626 on a lean budget, $819–1,340 for a comfortable month and $1,790–3,720 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much does food cost in Shangri-La?
A local meal is ¥20–35 ($3.0–5.2); a mid-range restaurant is ¥60–130 ($8.9–19.4) per person.
Is China expensive?
Prices in China are about 47% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Shangri-La
Going to Shangri-La solo?
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- China Railway 12306
- National Immigration Administration
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.