Which place is cheaper, Dharamsala or Cappadocia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cappadocia or Dharamsala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cappadocia or Dharamsala? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cappadocia or Dharamsala?
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is in Central Anatolia, between the mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan. It is famous for its underground cities, fairy chimneys, and caves. The landscape of the area is some of the most unique you'll ever see. The fairy chimneys are bizarrely shaped rock outcroppings that have evolved from the unique geography in the area. There are hiking trails through the series of valleys that make up the area. It's a great place to explore for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
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 10-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours from Istanbul, The Best Religious Tours in India, and The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCappadocia $151Dharamsala $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Cappadocia is $151, 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 Cappadocia and Dharamsala in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCappadocia $53Dharamsala $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCappadocia $106Dharamsala $46
Compare Hotels in Cappadocia and Dharamsala
Looking for a hotel in Cappadocia 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.
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: Cappadocia Hotel Prices and Dharamsala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cappadocia $51Dharamsala $5.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cappadocia Shared Transfer From/To Kayseri and Nevşehir Airport: $13
- Private/Shared Transfers Kayseri or Nevşehir Airports: $14
- Shared Airport Transfer From Nevsehir/Kayseri Airports to Hotels: $15
- From Kayseri & Nevsehir Airports: Transfer to Cappadocia: $16
- Shared Shuttle Airport or Hotel Transfer in Cappadocia: $16
- Airport Transfer From and To Kayseri and Nevsehir : $16
- Kayseri Airport Transfer: $16
- Transfer from Kayseri Airport to Cappadocia Hotels (Small Group): $16
- Cappadocia Hotel: Shared Transfer to Kayseri Airport: $22
- Nevsehir Airport: Shared Transfer to Cappadocia Hotel: $22
- Cappadocia Hotel: Shared Transfer to Nevsehir Airport: $22
- Shuttle Transfer from Cappadocia Hotels to "Kayseri Erkilet Airport": $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
- Chandigarh to Dharamshala Transfer: $85
- Airport to Dharamshala transfer: $50
- Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Cappadocia or Dharamsala?
Prices for flights to both Dharamsala and Cappadocia 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 dayCappadocia $50Dharamsala $8.36
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
-
Cookies$0.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show in Cave Restaurant with Dinner: $35
- Cappadocia Turkish Night wTransfer,Dinner &Unlimited Drinks: $39
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner, Drinks, Transfer: $42
- Cappadocia Traditional Turkish Night with Dinner (in Authentic Cave Restaurant): $54
- Turkish Night Show in Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Transfer: $55
- Cappadocia Night: Turkish Dance & Dinner : $60
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner: $60
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Entertainments: $63
- 3 Hours Turkish Night Show with Dinner: $65
- Cappadocian cooking - hands-on class with pickup: $65
- Romantic Cappadocia Sunset Dinner and Wine : $65
- Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant: $66
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.Cappadocia $95Dharamsala $5.57
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Underground City Entrance for Two$0.93
-
Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two$18
-
Horseback Riding for Two$3.55
-
Cappadocia Driving Tour$3.78
-
Goreme Museum Entrance Fee$0.46
-
Whirling Dervishes Show$3.09
-
Turkish Bath$2.16
-
Hot air ballooning$13
-
Goreme open air museum$0.62
-
Bellydancing Show$4.02
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
- Skip the Line: Guray Museum Admission Ticket: $4.39
- Cappadocia Private Tour (Car & Guide): $5.00
- Best Of Private Cappadocia Tour ( Car & Guide ): $5.48
- Cappadocia Private Tour with Car & Guide : $5.99
- Explore Cappadocia North and Red Underground City Private Tour : $12
- Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Watching Experience: $16
- Private Underground City tour in Cappadocia Derinkuyu , Kaymakli: $19
- Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Watching Tour: $19
- 2 Hour Sunset Quad Bike(Atv) Tour: $19
- Sunrise Balloon Watching Tour with Photographer: $20
- Cappadocia Local Carpet Weaving Tour: $20
- Guided ATV Tour with Sunrise Option: $22
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 - Full Day Guided Tour: $128
- Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $81
- Cultural tour - Dharamshala & Mcleodganj for full day: $30
- Dharamshala Dalhousie Tour from Amritsar: $299
- Dharamshala Mcleodganj Tour: $48
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $25
- Guided Andretta Artists' VIllage Tour: $98
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $42
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $42
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $98
- McLeodGanj Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $26
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCappadocia $18Dharamsala $5.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
- Cappadocia Nightlife Experience: Bar and Pub Crawl Tour: $32
- Cappadocia Wine Cellar and Wine Yard with Wine Tasting: $79
- Full-day Cappadocia Tour with wine tasting and clay shaping : $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cappadocia and Dharamsala, we can see that Cappadocia is more expensive. And not only is Dharamsala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cappadocia is in Europe 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 Dharamsala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dharamsala 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 Cappadocia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cappadocia than you might in Dharamsala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cappadocia Expensive? and Is Dharamsala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cappadocia or Dharamsala?
Dharamsala has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Cappadocia 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.
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.