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

Should you visit Alexandria or Pondicherry?

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 Pondicherry can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Alexandria or Pondicherry?

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 The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground.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.

Pondicherry

Located on the eastern coast of India in the state of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry has a long and interesting history of trade and war as the largest French colony in India. Today the French influence in the city remains, especially in the old quarters. This being said, Pondicherry very much embodies and east-meets-west culture.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.


Which place is cheaper, Pondicherry or Alexandria?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Alexandria Prices
    Egypt Prices
    Pondicherry Prices
    India Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Alexandria $28
    Pondicherry $36

The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $28, while the average daily cost in Pondicherry is $36. 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 Pondicherry in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Alexandria $10
    Pondicherry $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Alexandria $20
    Pondicherry $28
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Pondicherry

Looking for a hotel in Alexandria or Pondicherry? 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 Pondicherry


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 Pondicherry Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Alexandria $3.76
    Pondicherry $4.96
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 or to Borg Al Arab Airport: $14
  • Private Transfer from Borg El Arab Airport to Marsa Matrouh: $69
  • Private Transfer from Borg El Arab Airport to El Alamein Marassi: $47
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to El Cairo: $132
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo or vice versa: $134
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo in Egypt or vice versa: $121
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo or Giza Hotels: $65
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $224
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria Airport (HBE): $42
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo Airport: $49
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria City hotels to Alexandria Port: $42
  • Private Transfer from 6 of October City to El Cairo (CAI) Airport: $56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pondicherry

Also for Pondicherry, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer: Pondicherry Hotels to Chennai Airport (MAA): $85

Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Pondicherry?

Prices for flights to both Pondicherry 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 $14
    Pondicherry $17

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: $20
  • Alexandria Food Tour Top Rated: $40
  • Food Tour in Alexandria for Lunch or Dinner in The Best Restaurants: $45
  • From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94
  • GEM and Pyramids Tour with Cruise Dinner From Alexandria Port: $120

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pondicherry

For Pondicherry, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Indian Cooking Class in Pondicherry: $28
  • French-Creole Cooking Class in Pondicherry with a Local Family: $99
  • South Indian Dinner With A Local Family In Pondicherry: $141
  • Cooking class in Pondicherry (with Lunch or Dinner): $268

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Alexandria $5.24
    Pondicherry $9.77

Tours and Activities in Alexandria

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

  • 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $196
  • 6-Hour Private Day Tour to Rashid from Alexandria: $100
  • 8Days Egypt Tour package UltraLuxury Cairo,Alexandria&cruise: $4,190
  • Alamein full day tour from Alexandria: $95
  • Alexandria : Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria: $130
  • Alexandria : Tour to WadiElNatroun Monastery from Alexandria: $150
  • Alexandria By Night Private Free Walking Tours & Horse Carriage Ride: $68
  • Alexandria City Tour from Cairo Full Day: $121
  • Alexandria Day Tour: $110
  • Alexandria Day Tour – Explore the City's Top Attractions!: $82
  • Alexandria Day Tour Visit the Tob attractions of Alexandria City: $40
  • Alexandria Day Tour from Alexandria Port or Hotels: $101

Tours and Activities in Pondicherry

For Pondicherry, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Promenade Through A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Magical Pondicherry Markets Tour: $11
  • Spiritual Walk Tour Pondicherry: $11
  • Pondicherry Art Trails (2 Hours Guided Walking Tours): $12
  • Heritage & Cultural Walking Tour of Pondicherry: $13
  • The Unique Pondicherry City Bike Tour: $19
  • Experience Hands on Pottery Workshop: $20
  • Pondicherry Heritage Walking Tour of French Quarters: $26
  • Private Day Tour from Pondicherry to Tranquebar Treasures: $46
  • Guided City Tour in Pondicherry with complimentary refreshments: $47
  • Pondicherry Private Day Tour with Car Guide and Cycle Ride: $52
  • The Best of A Private Sightseeing Tour: $58

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Alexandria $1.42
    Pondicherry $6.05


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Pondicherry, we can see that Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Pondicherry?

Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Pondicherry. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria and Pondicherry, 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.