Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya or Chandigarh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chandigarh or Bodh Gaya?
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 Bodh Gaya. 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 Bodh Gaya?
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.
Bodh Gaya
Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.
Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.
Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChandigarh $42Bodh Gaya $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Chandigarh is $42, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is $52. 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 Bodh Gaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChandigarh $18Bodh Gaya $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChandigarh $36Bodh Gaya $44
Compare Hotels in Chandigarh and Bodh Gaya
Looking for a hotel in Chandigarh or Bodh Gaya? 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: Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chandigarh $11Bodh Gaya $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chandigarh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chandigarh:
- Private Transfer to/from Chandigarh and Amritsar: $71
- Private Transfer from Chandigarh to Delhi: $39
- Private Transfer from Chandigarh City to Chandigarh (IXC) Airport: $37
- One-Way Transfer: Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $36
- From Delhi: One way Private Transfer Service to Agra: $64
- From Amritsar: Amritsar to Chandigarh Transfer: $80
- Delhi to Indira Gandhi Airport (DEL) - Departure Private Transfer: $67
- Chandigarh to Chandigarh Airport Transfer: $16
- Chandigarh Airport Transfer: $25
- Chandigarh Airport IXC to Manali Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $54
- Chandigarh Airport (IXC) to Manali Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $27
- Affordable Chandigarh to Manali Transfer: $98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya
Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Airport: $13
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Chandigarh or Bodh Gaya?
Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya 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 $15Bodh Gaya $16
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chandigarh $14Bodh Gaya $9.82
Tours and Activities in Chandigarh
Here are a few actual costs in Chandigarh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Day The Hipster Chandigarh Experience: $106
- Best of the Chandigarh (Guided Full Day City Tour): $131
- Best of the Chandigarh (Guided Full Day City Tour): $128
- Chandigarh Day Tour: $44
- Chandigarh Museum Tour with Tuk Tuk ride: $25
- Chandigarh Museum Tour with Tuk Tuk ride: $34
- Chandigarh Nature Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Experience): $14
- Chandigarh Nightlife Tour with shopping and food tasting: $34
- Chandigarh Nightlife Tour with shopping and food tasting: $25
- Chandigarh Private Full Day Tour : $65
- Chandigarh Walking Tour : $14
- Chandigarh Walking Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya
For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
- Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $32
- Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $34
- Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $39
- Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $53
- Excursion tour of Rajgir & Nalanda from Bodhgaya: $63
- Private guided tour of Bodh Gaya over 2 days : $175
- Exclusive Guided Tour of Bodh Gaya: $227
- Spiritual, Bodhgaya Tour (01 Night / 02 Days): $336
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChandigarh $8.19Bodh Gaya $5.64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chandigarh and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chandigarh or Bodh Gaya?
Chandigarh has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Chandigarh and Bodh Gaya, 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.