Which place is cheaper, Amritsar or Chennai?
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 Chennai or Amritsar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Amritsar? 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: Chennai or Amritsar?
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
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 The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.
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Chennai Prices
India PricesAmritsar Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $32Amritsar $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $32, while the average daily cost in Amritsar is $64. 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 Chennai and Amritsar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Amritsar $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Amritsar $42
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Amritsar
Looking for a hotel in Chennai 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: Chennai Hotel Prices and Amritsar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.47Amritsar $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
- Chennai Airport (MAA) Private Transfer to Chennai City/Hotels: $22
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $30
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer: $234
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $108
- Private Transfer from Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport: $30
- Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $41
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Pondicherry: Comfortable Travel: $130
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amritsar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amritsar:
- Amritsar 02 days :Wagha border: Airport transfer Eng. guide: $205
- Private Wagah Border Drama and the Golden Temple with Transfer: $126
- Amritsar to Dharamshala Tour (One Way Transfer): $85
- Private Transfer from Amritsar to Amritsar Raja Sansi (ATQ) Airport: $40
- VIP Amritsar Airport Transfer: Comfort & Convenience: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Amritsar?
Prices for flights to both Amritsar and Chennai 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 dayChennai $11Amritsar $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ayurvedic or South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with an Author: $30
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai with Meena: $54
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local: $76
- Traditional Cooking Class in Chennai in a Local Home with Sundari: $78
- Private tour to learn Traditional Indian Art, craft & Cooking: $80
- Private Chennai Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Fun Local: $89
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Private Market Tour and South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai: $152
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amritsar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amritsar.
- Amritsar Food Tour: $22
- Agra: Guided Street Food Tour w/ Private Transportation: $23
- Amritsar Food Tour: $25
- Amritsar Food Tour: $29
- Wagah Border Retreat Ceremony With Traditional Dinner: $45
- Wagah Border Retreat Ceremony With Dinner: $45
- Evening Tour to Sadda Pind with Dinner: $60
- Beating Retreat Ceremony, Sadda Pind and Dinner: $71
- Sadda Pind With Lunch Or Dinner From Amritsar: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.63Amritsar $14
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Tour from Delhi by Car – Fast Entry: $4.55
- Agra: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line & Guided Private 3 Hours Tour: $4.55
- Chennai Heritage & Cultural Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $18
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $25
- Exploring Mylapore: A Cultural & Historical Walking Tour: $27
- Chennai Private Vehicle Tour with English Speaking Chauffeur: $31
- Experience Mylapore: Enriching Walking Trail Tour: $35
- From Agra: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Fatehpur Sikri Day Tour: $35
- Sowcarpet Street Food Walking Tour in Chennai with guide: $45
- British Architecture Walk in Chennai by Wonder tours: $49
- Georgetown heritage walking tour in Chennai about the founding of Chennai: $50
Tours and Activities in Amritsar
Here are a few actual costs in Amritsar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- A Day Trip of Amritsar Golden City from Delhi with Flight Tickets: $64
- Agra : Taj Mahal & Mausoleum Tour With Skip-the-Line Entry: $6.83
- Agra: Agra Fort and Baby Taj Private Tour with Pickup & Drop: $15
- Amritsar - Half day City tour (In & Around Golden Temple): $35
- Amritsar 1 Day Guided Tour-Golden Temple, Jalliawala Bagh, Wagah: $51
- Amritsar 1 Day Sightseeing with Wagah Border: $34
- Amritsar 1 Day Tour (Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border & Shopping): $36
- Amritsar 1 Day Tour, Golden Temple with Wagah Border: $31
- Amritsar 1 Day Tour: Golden Temple, Jalianwala Bagh, Wagah Border: $52
- Amritsar : Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh Private Tour: $55
- Amritsar : Private Walking Tour with Visit to Golden Temple: $171
- Amritsar City Guided Tour 4 to 5 Hours : $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $2.92Amritsar $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Amritsar, we can see that Amritsar is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chennai Expensive? and Is Amritsar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Amritsar?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Amritsar. When comparing the sizes of Chennai 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.