Commodities are typically priced higher in Tibet than in mainland China. Food and public transportation in the more “open” areas of Eastern Tibet (Kham and Amdo) are usually inexpensive. In “closed” areas food is still inexpensive but the cost of hiring suitable vehicles in areas where public transportation for foreigners is discouraged can be costly.
However, if you don’t hire transportation and are staying in Lhasa and the surrounding area you can live rather comfortably on US$20 per day. Once outside main cities of Lhasa, Shigatse and Tsetang, costs can drop even more.
Typical Pricing:
Liter of bottled water- ¥ 4
Street snack (bowl of noddles)- ¥ 4
Taxi ride around town- ¥ 10
Hotel prices can vary from US$3 (inexpensive guest house) to up to US$200 (upmarket hotels, often in Lhasa).
The average price for a shared meal from a cheaper teahouse or restaurant is around US$2-$5. Restaurants in high end Lhasa hotels may charge US$5-15 per dish. Be wary of places trying to add on addition plates and services you didn’t ask for; they will be added to the bill.
Major expenses will probably be spent on getting around. Consider hiring a vehicle and a driver. For example, the per-person total cost of a group of six traveling with some stops from Lhasa to the Nepali border will be around US$120 (US$20- US$30 per person per day).
Getting into Tibet is also expensive and bus fare from Golmud can cost up to US$200, while flights usually are about US$230.
Bicycle hire is about US$3-5 per day in Lhasa and taxis cost a few dollars to get across town. Local long distance buses are also cheap, about US$8.
Entry fees for monasteries and tourist attractions (palaces, forts etc) are usually $2-$6 per person. In some places a fee of about $US6 for photography is added and can sometimes be doubled for video camera use.
Often times entry fees and some times transportation fees have varied prices depending on the person. Foreigners are typically charged more than the local Tibetans or Chinese.