A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Alexandria vs. Dharamsala for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Alexandria or Dharamsala?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alexandria and Dharamsala can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Alexandria or Dharamsala?

Alexandria

There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.

Dharamsala

With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best Religious Tours in India, and The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India.


Which place is cheaper, Dharamsala or Alexandria?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $17, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala is $35. 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 Alexandria and Dharamsala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Alexandria $7.99
    Dharamsala $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Alexandria $16
    Dharamsala $46
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Dharamsala

Looking for a hotel in Alexandria or Dharamsala? 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.

Hotels in Alexandria


Hotels in Dharamsala


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: Alexandria Hotel Prices and Dharamsala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Alexandria $2.49
    Dharamsala $5.13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $0.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:

  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria City Hotels: $16
  • Private Airport Transfer in Alexandria: $22
  • Alexandria Airport Arrival Transfer: $24
  • Borg El Arab Arrival & Departure Transfers: $40
  • Private Pickup Transfer From A Hotel In Alexandria To Borg Al Arab Airport: $50
  • Private Transfer around El Nouzha Airport (ALY) in Alexandria: $63
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo/Giza Hotels or Cairo./Giza to Alexandr: $65
  • Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo : $73
  • From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $75
  • Private Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria To Cairo: $130
  • Private transfer from Luxor to Alexandria: $244

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:

  • Airport to Dharamshala transfer: $50
  • Chandigarh to Dharamshala Transfer: $85
  • Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Dharamsala?

Prices for flights to both Dharamsala and Alexandria 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Alexandria $6.46
    Dharamsala $8.34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.

  • Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $35
  • Alexandria Food Tour: $50
  • From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dharamsala

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dharamsala.

  • Flavors of Dharamshala: 2-Hour Guided Street Food Tour: $26

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Alexandria $3.50
    Dharamsala $5.55

Tours and Activities in Alexandria

Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Alexandria Library Entry Tickets With Pickup and Drop Off: $3.80
  • Citadel of Qaitbay Entry Ticket : $3.80
  • Alexandria Library Entry Ticket: $3.80
  • Catacomb Of Kom El-Shoqafa Entry Tickets : $3.80
  • Skip The Line Entry Ticket to Pompey's Pillar in Alexandria: $4.26
  • Entry Ticket To The Citadel of Qaitbay: $4.26
  • Skip The Line Entry Ticket to the Roman Theater in Alexandria: $4.26
  • Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa Entry Tickets: $4.26
  • Skip The Line Bibliotheca Alexandria Entry Ticket: $4.26
  • Alexandria Library Entry Ticket: $5.70
  • Qaitbay Citadel Entry Ticket: $5.70
  • Catacomb Of Kom El-Shoqafa Entry Ticket: $5.70

Tours and Activities in Dharamsala

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:

  • The Spiritual Trails of Dharamshala(Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Walking the Spiritual Path (Guided 2-Hour Dharamshala Tour): $18
  • McLeodGanj Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $18
  • Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $25
  • Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $26
  • Cultural tour - Dharamshala & Mcleodganj for full day: $30
  • Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $42
  • Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $42
  • Dharamshala Mcleodganj Tour: $48
  • Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $81
  • Private 6 hrs Mcleodganj & Dharamshala City Tour: $96
  • Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $98

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Alexandria $1.35
    Dharamsala $5.55


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Dharamsala, we can see that Dharamsala is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alexandria is in Africa and Dharamsala is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Dharamsala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dharamsala than you might in Alexandria.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alexandria Expensive? and Is Dharamsala Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Dharamsala?

Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Dharamsala. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria and Dharamsala, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.