Which place is cheaper, Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Dharamsala? 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 Dharamsala?
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.
Dharamsala
With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.
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 PricesDharamsala Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $32Dharamsala $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $32, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala is $39. 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 Dharamsala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Dharamsala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Dharamsala $44
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Dharamsala
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Dharamsala? 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 Dharamsala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.47Dharamsala $4.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
- Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Chennai Airport (MAA) Private Transfer to Chennai City/Hotels: $22
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chennai International Airport: $27
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $30
- Private Transfer from Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport: $30
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
- Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $41
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $108
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
- Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Dharamsala?
Prices for flights to both Dharamsala 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 $11Dharamsala $14
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 Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.63Dharamsala $5.27
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
- Private Night Walking Tour Chennai: $12
- Chennai Heritage & Cultural Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $18
- Food Walk Tour Chennai: $24
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $25
- Exploring Mylapore: A Cultural & Historical Walking Tour: $27
- Exploring Georgetown: A Heritage Walking Tour of Chennai: $29
- 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
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
- Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $89
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $27
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $40
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $40
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $108
- McLeod Ganj: Triund Trek with Manu Adventures India: $20
- Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $28
- Private 2-Days McLeodGanj & Dharamshala Guided Tour: $98
- Private 6 hrs Mcleodganj & Dharamshala City Tour: $64
- The Spiritual Trails of Dharamshala(Guided Walking Tour): $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $2.92Dharamsala $5.27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Dharamsala, we can see that Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Dharamsala?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 220 times larger than the population of Dharamsala. When comparing the sizes of Chennai and Dharamsala, 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.