Should you visit Chennai or Leh?
Should I visit Chennai or Leh? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Leh
Leh is a small town located in the Indus river valley at a crossroads of the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and Kashmir. Today, the town is best known for its Buddhist sites and nearby trekking areas. It is situated in northern India, amidst the mountainous Himalayan range.
Which city is cheaper, Leh or Chennai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $27, while the average daily cost in Leh is $36. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Chennai and Leh in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $28 in Chennai For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $32 for a double occupancy room in Leh.
Food
The price of a meal in Chennai can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $5.91 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $2.36 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
On average, meal and food prices in Leh cost around $13 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $5.20.
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Food
Meals for one day
Chennai $5.91
Leh $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai:
$35
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Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local:
$49
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Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai:
$50
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Private Market Tour and South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with Srividya:
$53
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South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport:
$59
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Private South Indian Cooking Class and Market Visit in Chennai:
$70
Local Transportation
To get around in Chennai, the average visitor spends $2.41 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $7.26 per day to get around in Leh.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs:
$15
-
Departure Private Transfer Chennai City to Chennai MAA Airport by Sedan Car:
$23
-
Private Transfer from Chennai (MAA) Airport to Chennai City:
$42
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Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport:
$42
-
Chennai to Vellore Transfer by Private Vehicle:
$93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:
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Leh- Transfers+Hotel+Sightseeing:
$253
Entertainment
In Chennai, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $2.56 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $13 per person, per day in Leh. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
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Marina Beach: Stroll along India's longest beach on an audio tour:
$5.00
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Night walk tour Chennai:
$13
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Night Walking Tour of Chennai:
$15
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Temple Walking Tour of Chennai:
$15
-
Magical Chennai Markets Tour:
$19
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Food Walk Tour Chennai:
$19
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Chennai Street Food Walking Tour:
$19
-
Mylapore Walking tour with Breakfast by Wonder tours:
$24
-
The Georgetown Bazaar Walk by Wonder tours:
$24
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The Georgetown Bazaar Walking tour by Wonder tours:
$24
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Bazaar Trail Walking Tour in George Town:
$25
-
Peacock Trail Walking Tour in Mylapore:
$25
Tours and Activities in Leh
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:
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6 Day Private Wonders of Ladakh Tour:
$490
-
6 Days Leh Ladakh Backpacker Tour:
$153
-
7 Days Private Ladakh Tour - Simply Awesome:
$450
-
9-Day Guided Motorcycle Tour into Ladakh’s Landscapes:
$1,749
-
Audio Guided Tour of Leh Bazaar – Life in Leh:
$4.46
-
Enchanting Ladakh Tour:
$833
-
Excellent Leh-Ladakh Tour:
$381
-
Full Day Leh Monasteries Tour (Shey, Thiksey & Hemis):
$140
-
Heritage & Cultural Walk of Leh (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour):
$21
-
LBE | Tour De Ladakh | June 2020:
$510
-
LBE | Ultimate Ladakh Experience I | July 2020:
$535
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LEH LADAKH TOUR (5 Nights /6 Days):
$450
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Chennai, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $2.84.
The average person spends about $5.15 on alcoholic beverages in Leh per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Leh, we can see that Leh 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 Leh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leh than you might in Chennai.
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