Which place is cheaper, Chandigarh or Chennai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Chennai or Chandigarh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Chandigarh? 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 Chandigarh?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in India, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in India, The Best 2-Week Tours in India, and The Best Bicycle Tours in India.
-
Chennai Prices
India PricesChandigarh Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $34Chandigarh $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $34, while the average daily cost in Chandigarh is $53. 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 Chandigarh in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Chandigarh $18
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Chandigarh $36
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Chandigarh
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Chandigarh? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.58Chandigarh $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A Private Transfer: From Chennai to Kanchipuram Car & Driver: $66
- A Private Transfer:From Chennai Airport To Chennai city: $19
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport Private Transfer: $30
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
- Chennai to Vellore Transfer by Private Vehicle: $94
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chandigarh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chandigarh:
- From Delhi: One way Private Transfer Service to Agra: $139
- Affordable Chandigarh to Manali Transfer: $98
- Chandigarh Airport (IXC) to Manali Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $81
- From Amritsar: One-Way Transfer to Chandigarh: $79
- Private Transfer from Chandigarh to Delhi: $38
- Private Transfer from Chandigarh City to Chandigarh (IXC) Airport: $37
- Premium Chandigarh Airport Transfer: Cheap & Comfortable: $21
- Chandigarh Airport: One-Way Transfer Arrival and Departure: $10
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Chandigarh?
Prices for flights to both Chandigarh 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
-
Food Meals for one dayChennai $11Chandigarh $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai in a Local Home: $74
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local: $76
- Private 3-Hour Cooking Lesson and Meal in Chennai: $100
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Private South Indian Cooking Class and Market Visit in Chennai: $152
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.74Chandigarh $14
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Private Night Walking Tour Chennai: $13
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $16
- Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $16
- Magical Markets Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- 2 Hour Street Food Walking Tour: $17
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $19
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $26
- Village Tour around Mahabalipuram: $27
- Enjoy the Tuk Tuk Experience in Chennai: $27
- The Georgetown Bazaar Walking tour : $29
- Private Ayurvedic Meal Experience with a Local Cookbook Author: $30
Tours and Activities in Chandigarh
Here are a few actual costs in Chandigarh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Day Chandigarh Architecture History Tour: $139
- 3 Day Golden tour with Transport and Guide.: $175
- Best of the Chandigarh (Guided Full Day City Tour): $129
- Best of the Chandigarh (Guided Full Day City Tour): $126
- Chandigarh 01 Day Tour: $56
- Chandigarh Museum Tour with Tuk Tuk ride: $34
- Chandigarh Nightlife Tour with shopping and food tasting: $24
- Chandigarh Private Full Day Tour : $65
- Chandigarh Walking Tour : $13
- Chandigarh Walking Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Private Full-Day Sightseeing Tour of the City: $36
- Delhi to Jaipur: Golden Triangle Private Luxury Tour for 4 Days : $196
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $3.04Chandigarh $8.10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Chandigarh, we can see that Chandigarh 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 Chandigarh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chandigarh 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 Chandigarh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Chandigarh?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Chandigarh. When comparing the sizes of Chennai and Chandigarh, 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.