Which place is cheaper, Varanasi or Cappadocia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cappadocia or Varanasi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cappadocia or Varanasi? 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 Varanasi?
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.
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 10-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours from Istanbul, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCappadocia $151Varanasi $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Cappadocia is $151, while the average daily cost in Varanasi is $30. 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 Varanasi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCappadocia $53Varanasi $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCappadocia $106Varanasi $32
Compare Hotels in Cappadocia and Varanasi
Looking for a hotel in Cappadocia 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: Cappadocia Hotel Prices and Varanasi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cappadocia $51Varanasi $4.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIPPrivate Airport Transfer From or To Kayseri & Nevsehir Airport: $49
- Transfer from Kayseri and Nevsehir Airport Cappadocia mercedes for 16 people: $163
- Transfer from Kayseri Airport to Cappadocia Hotels (Small Group): $16
- Transfer from Cappadocia Hotels to Nevşehir or Kayseri Airport (private): $149
- Shuttle Transfer from Cappadocia Hotels to "Kayseri Erkilet Airport": $22
- Shared Shuttle Airport or Hotel Transfer in Cappadocia: $16
- Shared Airport Transfer From Nevsehir/Kayseri Airports to Hotels: $15
- Private/Shared Transfers Kayseri or Nevşehir Airports: $14
- Private transfer from Nevşehir airport (NAV) to any hotel in Cappadocia: $104
- Private Transfers Nevşehir Apt to/from Kaymaklı or Özkonak Underground Cities: $131
- Private Transfers Nevşehir Airport to/from Cappadocia Region: $131
- Private Transfers Kayseri Erkılet Airport to/from Cappadocia Region: $131
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$0.96
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Rickshaw Ride$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Agra: Agra to Varanasi One Way Transfer: $177
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $170
- Spiritual Varanasi - A Most Amazing Heritage Walk with Private Transfer: $108
- Smooth transfer from Varanasi Airport to Hotel: $60
- From Varanasi Airport Transfer: $36
- Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $34
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $30
- Private Varanasi Heritage Walk with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $21
- Varanasi Airport: Transfer to/from Varanasi Hotels & Airport: $18
- Varanasi Airport to hotel private transfer: $18
- Private Transfer Varanasi Airport (VNS) To Varanasi Hotels Drop: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Cappadocia or Varanasi?
Prices for flights to both Varanasi 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
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Food Meals for one dayCappadocia $50Varanasi $7.14
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
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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
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$4.13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tests of Best Varanasi Local Food Tour With Tourist Guide: $18
- Taste of Varanasi (2 Hour Guided Street Food Tour): $22
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $40
- From Street food tour with Evening Ganga Aarti: $42
- Private Evening Rooftop Dinner: $44
- 3-hour Shopping and Street Food Tour on a tuk-tuk ride: $46
- Evening Dinner with Private Transfer: $50
- Night Boat Ride, Aarati Ceremony and Dinner: $62
- Private Evening Street Food Tour: $63
- India: Evening Ganga Aarti With Dinner and Private Transfer: $65
- Private Evening Handicraft Market Tour with Dinner: $71
- Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cappadocia $95Varanasi $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Underground City Entrance for Two$0.93
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Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two$18
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Horseback Riding for Two$3.55
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Cappadocia Driving Tour$3.78
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Goreme Museum Entrance Fee$0.46
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Whirling Dervishes Show$3.09
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Turkish Bath$2.16
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Hot air ballooning$13
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Goreme open air museum$0.62
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Bellydancing Show$4.02
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
- 2 Days Cappadocia Red & Erciyes Ski Tour: $220
- 2 days Cappadocia Full Turkish night Show, Atv & Red Tour: $175
- ATV (Quad) Tour in Cappadocia-2 Hours: $49
- Cappadocia ATV safari & adventures : $55
- Cappadocia Red Tour Small Group: $99
- Cappadocia relax tour car and driver: $132
- 1, 2 or 3 Days Private Cappadocia Tour Best Seller: $250
- 1-Hour Hot Air Balloon Tour in Cappadocia Goreme Valley: $250
- 2 Days Cappadocia Tour from Ankara: $263
- 2 Days Private Guided Cappadocia Tour with Pick Up: $225
- 2 Days Red and Green tour: $165
- 2 Hour Cappadocia Atv Experience : $41
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$0.84
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Varanasi Experience 01 Night -02 Days Tour: $85
- 01 Day Private Taj Mahal Tour (Delhi- Agra - Delhi): $140
- 1 Day Ayodhya Tour from Varanasi Airport: $82
- 11 - Hours Agra Tour: Sunrise and Sunset of Taj Mahal from Delhi.: $97
- 12 Days Buddhist Tour From The Birth To Death: $1,439
- 2 Day Private Bodhgaya Tour From Varanasi: $189
- 2 Days : Varanasi Private Guided Tour With Airport Pickup: $162
- 2 Days Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $116
- 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $132
- 2 Days Varanasi tour package for first timers: $150
- 2 days Varanasi city Tour by a Vande Bharat train: $226
- 3 Days Admirable Tour in Varanasi with private tour guided: $103
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCappadocia $18Varanasi $7.85
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 Varanasi, we can see that Cappadocia is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cappadocia 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 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 Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cappadocia Expensive? and Is Varanasi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cappadocia or Varanasi?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Cappadocia 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.