Which place is cheaper, Varanasi or Bodrum?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bodrum or Varanasi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bodrum and Varanasi can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bodrum or Varanasi?
Bodrum
Bodrum is a city on the Bodrum Peninsula, stretching from Turkey's southwest coast into the Aegean Sea. The city features twin bays with views of Bodrum Castle. This medieval fortress was built partly with stones from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, completed in the 4th century B.C. The city is also a gateway for nearby beach towns and resorts. Although more than a million tourists flock to its beaches, boutique hotels, trendy restaurants, and clubs each summer, the town of Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) never seems to lose its cool. More than any other Turkish seaside getaway, it has an enigmatic elegance that pervades it. The evocative castle and the ancient ruins around town also help keep Bodrum a discerning step above the rest.
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Anzac Day Tours in Turkey, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Turkey, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Bodrum Prices
Turkey PricesVaranasi Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBodrum $72Varanasi $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Bodrum is $72, while the average daily cost in Varanasi is $31. 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 Bodrum and Varanasi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBodrum $31Varanasi $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBodrum $62Varanasi $28
Compare Hotels in Bodrum and Varanasi
Looking for a hotel in Bodrum or Varanasi? 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.
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: Bodrum Hotel Prices and Varanasi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bodrum $16Varanasi $4.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodrum
Also for Bodrum, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yalikavak Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $91
- Yaliciftlik Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $91
- VIP Transfer and Excursions in Bodrum: $108
- Turgutreis Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $91
- Transfer From Bodrum Milas Airport to Soke (Söke): $131
- Transfer From Bodrum Milas Airport to Kusadasi: $137
- Traditional Turkish Hamam with Hotel or Port Transfer – Bodrum: $22
- Torba Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $68
- Private Transfer from Bodrum Port to Bodrum Milas Airport BJV: $48
- Private Transfer from Bodrum Milas Airport BJV to Bodrum Port: $48
- Private Transfer from Bodrum Milas Airport (BJV) to Bodrum Port: $48
- Private Milas-Bodrum Airport Transfers to Hotels: $74
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.84
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Rickshaw Ride$0.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sunrise Boat Tour and Heritage Walk with transfers: $79
- Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including transfers: $77
- Sunrise Boat Tour and Heritage Walk with transfers: $72
- Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including Hotel transfers: $70
- Private transfer from Varanasi to Allahabad: $67
- Smooth transfer from Varanasi Airport to Hotel: $60
- Airport Pickup/Drop Transfer Service: $53
- 3-hours Temple hopping with transfers: $35
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $21
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $13
- Varanasi Hotels to Varanasi Airport drop: Private Transfers: $11
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Bodrum or Varanasi?
Prices for flights to both Varanasi and Bodrum 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
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Food Meals for one dayBodrum $27Varanasi $11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bodrum
For Bodrum, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bodrum Food, Culture & Cooking Experience transfer lunch included: $56
- Turkish Cooking Class in a Local Home: $69
- Christmas Dinner at Karnas Vineyards: $108
- Etrim Village Turkish Cooking and Farm Experience: $120
- Farmers Market visit & Turkish Cooking Class: $137
- Market Visit and Cooking Class: $150
- Bodrum Cooking Class: $183
- Sunset Boat Trip including Dinner: $228
- Private Sunset Boat Tour in Bodrum With Dinner: $230
- From Private Sunset Boat Tour with Dinner & Swimming: $230
- 3-Hour Private Sunset Boat Tour With Dinner in Bodrum: $232
- Private VIP Gulet Boat Sunset Tour With Dinner For 3 Hour: $285
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour: Highlights Tour with Tasting &Sunset in Varanasi: $14
- Cooking Class with Sona: $29
- Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $29
- Ganga Aarti with Street Food Tour of Varanasi: $40
- Half-Day Varanasi Village Tour with Cooking Class & Local Dining: $40
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Shobha: $40
- Traditional Indian Cooking Class with Dinner: $42
- Private Street Food Tour with 8+ Tastings & Pickup: $44
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $44
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $50
- Dashashwamedh Ganga Arati from balcony with Street Food Tour: $50
- Indian Cooking Class with Hotel Pickup: $52
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bodrum $20Varanasi $9.24
Tours and Activities in Bodrum
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bodrum.
- Ölüdeniz: Blue Cave, Butterfly Valley & Lunch Boat Tour: $75
- ALL INCLUSIVE - Private Bodrum City Tour for Cruise Passangers: $75
- Authentic Bodrum Village Tour with Lunch & Rug Weaving Experience: $56
- Authentic Ottoman Style Hammam Experience: $29
- Best of Bodrum Private Tour: $241
- Boattrip to Bodrum Maledives for Virgin Cruise Passengers: $40
- Bodrum Aquapark Entry Ticket: $57
- Bodrum Aquarium Bay Tour with Lunch & Swimming Stops: $31
- Bodrum Boat Tour with Lunch: Beaches and Islands: $27
- Bodrum Carpet Village Experience with women Weaving Cooperative: $56
- Bodrum City Private Tour For Cruise Passengers with TICKET: $199
- Bodrum City Tour: $120
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride$0.74
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 03 Day Spiritual Tour: Kashi Vishwanath,Ganga Aarti Sarnath”: $271
- 08 Hours : Private - Full Day City Tour Of Delhi: $53
- 08 Hours : Private Full Day City Tour of Jaipur: $90
- 2 Day Private Bodhgaya Tour From Varanasi: $189
- 2 Day Private Mystical Varanasi Tour: $43
- 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $180
- 2 Days Varanasi City Tour with Evening Aarti and Boat Ride: $100
- 2 Days Varanasi tour package for first timers: $135
- 2 Night 3 Days Spiritual Varanasi with Cruise Ride: $233
- 2-Day Varanasi Experience – Temples, Ghats & Ganga Aarti: $140
- 2-Day Varanasi Heritage & Tradition Guided Tour: $156
- 2-Day Experience Sunrise Boat Ride & Evening Aarti: $317
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBodrum $8.91Varanasi $6.91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bodrum and Varanasi, we can see that Bodrum is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bodrum is in Europe and Varanasi 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 Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Bodrum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bodrum than you might in Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bodrum Expensive? and Is Varanasi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bodrum or Varanasi?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bodrum. When comparing the sizes of Bodrum and Varanasi, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.