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

Should you visit Beirut or Dharamsala?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut and Dharamsala. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Beirut or Dharamsala?

Beirut

Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.

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 Religious Tours in India, and The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India.


Which place is cheaper, Dharamsala or Beirut?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.77, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala is $37. 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 Beirut and Dharamsala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Beirut $1.26
    Dharamsala $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Beirut $2.52
    Dharamsala $40
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Dharamsala

Looking for a hotel in Beirut 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 Beirut


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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Dharamsala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Beirut $0.44
    Dharamsala $4.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut

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

  • Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.99
  • Airport Departure Transfer From Your Beirut Hotel: $10
  • Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
  • Private Arrival Transfer | Beirut Airport to Your Hotel: $10
  • Paragliding in Lebanon with Hotel Transfer From Beirut: $192
  • Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $200

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:

  • Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Dharamsala?

Prices for flights to both Dharamsala and Beirut 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
    Beirut $1.23
    Dharamsala $13

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut

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

  • Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $35
  • Private Lebanese Home Cooking Class in Byblos with a Local Family: $86
  • Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
  • Beirut Street Food Tour | Hummus, Knefeh & Manoushe: $135
  • Beirut Street Food Tour | 4 Neighbourhoods · All Inclusive: $150
  • Private Beirut Street Food Tour with Lunch | Max 6 People: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Beirut $0.26
    Dharamsala $4.92

Tours and Activities in Beirut

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

  • Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos: Small Group Tour with Hotel pickup: $30
  • New Cost Saver Small-Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos: $30
  • Beirut Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
  • Beirut : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $36
  • Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
  • Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
  • Guided Small-Group Tour to Jeita, Harissa, Byblos with Lunch: $45
  • Small-Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos with Lunch: $45
  • Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
  • Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
  • Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
  • Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche | Budget Small-Group Tour From Beirut: $45

Tours and Activities in Dharamsala

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

  • Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $88
  • Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $27
  • Guided Cycling tour in Dharamshala: $28
  • Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $39
  • Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $39
  • Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $107
  • McLeod Ganj: Triund Trek with Manu Adventures India: $19
  • Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $28
  • Private 2-Days McLeodGanj & Dharamshala Guided Tour: $97
  • Private 6 hrs Mcleodganj & Dharamshala City Tour: $63
  • The Spiritual Trails of Dharamshala(Guided Walking Tour): $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Beirut $0.23
    Dharamsala $4.92

Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut

Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Private Wine Tasting Day Tour from Beirut: $75
  • Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun Day Trip: $75
  • Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut (Entrance Fee Included): $91
  • Private Baalbek Temples & Ksara Wine Tour | From Beirut: $100
  • Private Bekaa Wine Tour | Saint Thomas, Kefraya & Ksara · Beirut: $100
  • Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun from Beirut: $100
  • Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour | Ksara, Kefraya & Saint Thomas: $100
  • Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour | 3 Wineries from Beirut: $100
  • Private Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour from Beirut: $100
  • Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
  • PRIVATE Wine Tour in Central Bekaa Valley: $113
  • Private Cedar Hike & Bekaa Wine Tour | Kefraya & Ksara: $150


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Dharamsala, we can see that Dharamsala is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Beirut.

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


Which is Bigger, Beirut or Dharamsala?

Beirut has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Dharamsala. When comparing the sizes of Beirut 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.