Which place is cheaper, Chandigarh or Chennai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $29Chandigarh $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $29, while the average daily cost in Chandigarh is $42. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Chandigarh $18
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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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.61Chandigarh $11
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 Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
- Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer: $246
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $145
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chandigarh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chandigarh:
- Affordable Chandigarh to Manali Transfer: $98
- From Amritsar: Amritsar to Chandigarh Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer to/from Chandigarh and Amritsar: $71
- Delhi to Indira Gandhi Airport (DEL) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
- From Delhi: One way Private Transfer Service to Agra: $64
- Chandigarh Airport IXC to Manali Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $55
- 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
- Chandigarh Airport (IXC) to Manali Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $27
- Chandigarh Airport Transfer: $25
- Chandigarh to Chandigarh Airport Transfer: $16
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
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Food Meals for one dayChennai $6.40Chandigarh $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Street Food Tour in Sowcarpet Chennai : $37
- Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai: $46
- Private Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai : $48
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai with Menna: $54
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
- Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.77Chandigarh $14
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Spiritual Trails of Chennai (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Explore Chennai in Nightlights (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Chennai Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $16
- Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $16
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Magical Chennai Markets Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- 2 Hour Street Food Walking Tour: $21
- Food Walk Tour Chennai: $25
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $26
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $26
- Chennai Food Tasting Trails (2 Hour Guided Tour Experience): $26
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: $25
- Chandigarh Nightlife Tour with shopping and food tasting: $34
- Chandigarh Private Full Day Tour : $65
- Chandigarh Walking Tour : $14
- Chandigarh Walking Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $3.08Chandigarh $8.19
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.