Should you visit Chennai or Delhi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Delhi? 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 Delhi?
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.
Delhi
Delhi is the largest city in northern India and is officially the country's capital. The city has a population of 11 million with the metropolitan population reaching over 16 million. The city is similar in landscape to the rest of its surrounding area. It is very flat with the river Yamuna flowing on the eastern side of the city. The Aravalii Hills are in the western portion of the city. The city's history dates back to the 6th century BC and it has served as a capital for various kingdoms and empires.
Which place is cheaper, Delhi or Chennai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $30, while the average daily cost in Delhi is $45. 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 Delhi in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Delhi? 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
Delhi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer:
$24
-
Arrival Private Transfer from Chennai Airport MAA to Chennai city by car:
$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 Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai MAA Airport by car:
$24
-
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
Typical Local Transportation prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:
-
Tuk Tuk Ride
$0.12
-
Taxi to Airport
$1.92
-
Subway
$0.38
-
Uber Cab
$0.96
-
Delhi Metro Smart Card
$1.80
-
Auto-rickshaw
$1.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
-
From Delhi :- Agra Day Trip With Transfer:
$1,000
-
UNESCO'S Agra & Jaipur- A Three Night Exploration From Delhi By Private Transfer:
$740
-
Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf at ITC Bharat with Private Transfer:
$581
-
Spiritual Haridwar &Rishikesh-3 Day 2 Night Visit From Delhi By Private Transfer:
$576
-
Magnificent Jaipur - An Overnight Journey From Delhi Via Private Transfer:
$491
-
2 Days Delhi Mandawa Tour With Jaipur Transfer:
$395
-
2 Nights Taj Mahal & Agra Highlights Tour from Delhi with Jaipur Transfer:
$336
-
3 Days Tour of Agra & Amritsar from Delhi Includes Hotel,Transfer & Train Ticket:
$325
-
Delhi to Jaipur transfer via Bharatpur and Ranthambore park visit:
$300
-
3-Days Delhi and Varanasi Tour by Express Train.Includes,Hotel Transfers.:
$275
-
New Taj Mahal Entry Ticket Guided Tour with Hotel Transfer:
$257
-
Enjoy South Indian Cuisine At Dakshin - Sheraton New Delhi with Private Transfer:
$242
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Delhi?
Prices for flights to both Delhi 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 day
Chennai $6.42
Delhi $12
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 Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport:
$62
-
Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her 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
-
Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai:
$220
Typical Food prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Delhi:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.
-
Old Delhi Food Tour Safari - The Capital of Flavors:
$7.70
-
Delhi food tour-culinary delights of Min 2pax:
$10
-
Appetizing virtual cooking class from Delhi:
$20
-
Lunch or dinner with local family:
$21
-
The Legendary Delhi Belly Food Tour:
$27
-
Old Delhi Food Tour Extravaganza!:
$30
-
Food Tour to Old Delhi with a Local:
$32
-
Online: Indian Food Cooking Class:
$33
-
Owner Led Delhi Shopping Tour Including Lunch/Dinner in Multicuisine Restaurant :
$34
-
Old Delhi Heritage Sightseeing | Walking Tour | Street Food Tour:
$34
-
Cooking Demo + Lunch/Dinner and interaction with an Indian family @ Chez Anjali:
$35
-
Chandni Chowk Delhi Food Tour with 13+ Tastings:
$35
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
-
Magical Chennai Markets Tour:
$12
-
Private Night Walking Tour Chennai:
$13
-
Walking Tour Chennai:
$14
-
Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour):
$16
-
Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour):
$16
-
Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour):
$17
-
Magical Chennai Markets Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour):
$17
-
Chennai Street Food Crawl ( 2 hours guided walking tour):
$22
-
Mylapore Walking tour by Wonder tours:
$25
-
Bazaar Walking tour in George Town:
$25
-
Food Walk Tour Chennai:
$25
-
Chennai Cultural Walking Tour:
$26
Typical Entertainment prices in Delhi
Here are a few typical costs in Delhi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Delhi
Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
2 Days Agra Tour From Delhi with Fatehpur Sikri & bird Sanctuary:
$130
-
2-Day Agra Taj Mahal Overnight Tour from Delhi:
$199
-
3 Day Golden Triangle Tour from Delhi:
$132
-
3 Days Golden Triangle Tour from Delhi:
$175
-
3 Days Private Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Triangle Tour :
$148
-
3Day Private Luxury Golden Triangle Tour to Agra and Jaipur From New Delhi:
$299
-
4 Nights and 5 Days Golden Triangle Tours of India:
$750
-
5 Days Private Golden Triangle Tour by Car :
$430
-
5-Days Delhi Agra Jaipur Tour(Golden Triangle Tour):
$399
-
5-Days Golden Triangle Tour : Delhi Agra and Jaipur:
$533
-
6 Hours: Delhi Temples and Spiritual Sites Tour:
$45
-
6- Days Taj, Tigers and Pink City (Golden Triangle Tour from Delhi):
$1,035
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Delhi
Also in Delhi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour):
$27
-
Pub Crawl Delhi:
$39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Delhi, we can see that Delhi 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 Delhi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Delhi than you might in Chennai.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Delhi?
Delhi is bigger, and its population is about 2.5 times larger than the population of Chennai. When comparing the population of Chennai vs. Delhi, 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 and the activities that interest you.
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