Which place is cheaper, Amritsar or Chandigarh?
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 Chandigarh or Amritsar?
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 Chandigarh and Amritsar. 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: Chandigarh or Amritsar?
Chandigarh
As India's first planned city, Chandigarh is a city very distinct from the rest of the country. Much of its architecture is very modern and sits against a backdrop of the Shivalik Hills. Some of the best known attractions of Chandigarh include its rock garden, rose garden, and Sukhna Lake.
Amritsar
Amritsar is a holy city of the Sikh religion, named "holy pool of nectar" for the pool around the base of the Golden Temple complex. This complex is the city's main attraction, bringing pilgrims from all over to bathe in the waters of the sacred pool and visit the sacred temple.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, and The Best Cultural Tours in India.
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Chandigarh Prices
India PricesAmritsar Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChandigarh $47Amritsar $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Chandigarh is $47, while the average daily cost in Amritsar is $59. 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 Chandigarh and Amritsar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChandigarh $16Amritsar $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChandigarh $32Amritsar $40
Compare Hotels in Chandigarh and Amritsar
Looking for a hotel in Chandigarh or Amritsar? 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: Amritsar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chandigarh $9.77Amritsar $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chandigarh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chandigarh:
- Affordable Chandigarh to Manali Transfer: $98
- Chandigarh Airport (IXC) to Manali Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $62
- Chandigarh Airport IXC to Manali Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $124
- From Delhi: One way Private Transfer Service to Agra: $139
- Private Transfer from Chandigarh City to Chandigarh (IXC) Airport: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amritsar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amritsar:
- Amritsar to Dharamshala Tour (One Way Transfer): $79
- Half Day city tour with Lunch & transfers: $60
- Private Transfer from Amritsar to Amritsar Raja Sansi (ATQ) Airport: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Chandigarh or Amritsar?
Prices for flights to both Amritsar and Chandigarh 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 dayChandigarh $23Amritsar $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amritsar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amritsar.
- Agra: Guided Street Food Tour w/ Private Transportation: $20
- Amritsar Food Tour: $28
- Lunch/Dinner and Cooking Class with a Local Family (3-4 hours): $38
- Private Farm-Fresh Punjabi Cooking Class in Amritsar: $136
- Sadda Pind With Lunch Or Dinner From Amritsar: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chandigarh $13Amritsar $13
Tours and Activities in Chandigarh
Here are a few actual costs in Chandigarh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Agra: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Fatehpur Sikri Guided Tour: $10
- Nature Walk of Chandigarh( 2 Hours Walking Tour): $12
- Chandigarh Walking Tour: $12
- Chandigarh Museum Tour with Tuk Tuk ride: $22
- Chandigarh Nightlife Tour with shopping and food tasting: $22
- Best Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi: $60
- From Hyderabad: Private Day Tour to Tajmahal And Agra: $64
- Highlights of the Chandigarh (Guided Half Day City Tour): $73
- The Hipster Chandigarh Architecture History Tour: $74
- Taj Mahal & Old Delhi Guided Tour with Guide and Car: $75
- Private Full Day Guided Tour of Old and New Delhi by AC Car: $80
- Same Day Jaipur Tour from Delhi by Car: $80
Tours and Activities in Amritsar
Here are a few actual costs in Amritsar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Delhi: Private Taj Mahal & Agra Tour with 5-star Lunch: $3.72
- Agra : Taj Mahal & Mausoleum Tour With Skip-the-Line Entry: $6.76
- Guided Amritsar Village Tour: $8.77
- Village Tour in Amritsar Countryside of Punjab: $14
- Agra: Agra Fort and Baby Taj Private Tour with Pickup & Drop: $15
- Amritsar Heritage Walking Tour: $16
- Real Village Tour Amritsar: $18
- Golden Temple Guided Tour (Planet Amritsar Inc.): $19
- Golden Temple Night Experience – Witness the Palki Ceremony: $20
- Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh Guided Tour: $20
- Amritsar Full Day City Tour with Transportation (10 Hours): $20
- Amritsar Customizable Tour Tailored Just for You: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChandigarh $7.21Amritsar $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chandigarh and Amritsar, we can see that Amritsar is more expensive. And not only is Chandigarh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chandigarh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chandigarh 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 Amritsar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amritsar than you might in Chandigarh.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chandigarh Expensive? and Is Amritsar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chandigarh or Amritsar?
Amritsar has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Chandigarh. When comparing the sizes of Chandigarh and Amritsar, 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.