A Travel Price Comparison for India Chennai vs. Leh for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chennai or Leh?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Chennai or Leh? 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 Leh?

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.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Leh or Chennai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $34, while the average daily cost in Leh is $48. 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 Leh in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chennai $15
    Leh $17
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chennai $30
    Leh $34
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Leh

Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Leh? 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.

Hotels in Chennai


Hotels in Leh


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 Leh Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chennai $2.58
    Leh $7.79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai

Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
  • Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
  • A Private Transfer:From Chennai Airport To Chennai city: $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
  • VIP Chennai Airport Transfer: Comfort & Convenience: $24
  • Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
  • Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chennai International Airport: $28
  • Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport Private Transfer: $30
  • Chennai Private City and Airport Transfer : $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:

  • Ladakh: 5-Day Family Tour with Accommodation & Transfers: $379
  • Leh Airport Transfer: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Leh?

Prices for flights to both Leh 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 $11
    Leh $24

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
  • South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
  • Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai in a Local Home: $74
  • 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: $216

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chennai $2.74
    Leh $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 Heritage & Cultural Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $15
  • 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
  • Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $19
  • Food Walk Tour Chennai: $25
  • Village Tour around Mahabalipuram: $27
  • The Georgetown Bazaar Walking tour : $29
  • Private Ayurvedic Meal Experience with a Local Cookbook Author: $30
  • Experience Mylapore: Enriching Walking Trail Tour: $33
  • Big Fat Indian Wedding, shopping & bazaar walking tour in Chennai: $35

Tours and Activities in Leh

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:

  • "Leh to Pangong Lake Sameday tour: A Day of Tranquil Wonders: $85
  • Airport Pickup with Shanti Stupa-Leh Palace & Monastery Tour: $30
  • Chadar Trek Frozen River Trekking Tour: $312
  • From Srinagar: Private Himalayan 11-Day Tour to Ladakh: $1,507
  • LADAKH TOUR: $652
  • Leh Explorer: One-Day Cultural and Scenic Adventure: $57
  • Leh Ladakh Tour 3N 4Day with "Airport pick up and Drop off": $361
  • Nubra Valley 2-Day Tour with Khardung-La Pass: $142
  • Overnight Pangong Tour From Leh With Thiksey & Shey Palace: $113
  • The Ultimate Leh-Ladakh Experience: From Valleys to Lakes: $417

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chennai $3.05
    Leh $5.52


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.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chennai Expensive? and Is Leh Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Chennai or Leh?

Chennai has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Chennai and Leh, 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.