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.
Jump to 
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.
-
Chennai Prices
India PricesLeh Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $32Leh $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $32, while the average daily cost in Leh is $46. 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 personChennai $15Leh $16
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Leh $32
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.
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 $2.47Leh $7.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- 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
- Private Transfer from Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport: $30
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $30
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
- Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:
- Ladakh Family Getaway: 6-Day Tour with Stay & Transfers: $428
- Ladakh: 5-Day Family Tour with Accommodation & Transfers: $361
- From Jaipur: 2-Day Ranthambore Tiger Safari with transfers: $278
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 dayChennai $11Leh $23
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 Indian Art, Craft and Cooking Tour: $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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.63Leh $14
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Agra: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line & Guided Private 3 Hours Tour: $4.51
- Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Tour from Delhi by Car – Fast Entry: $4.51
- Private Night Walking Tour Chennai: $12
- Walk and Explore Chennai City: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
- Explore Chennai City in Nightlights: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
- Spiritual Stories of Guided Tour through Holy Sites: $13
- Exploring Chennai Bustling Markets: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
- Chennai Heritage & Cultural Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $14
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $18
- Magical Markets Guided Walking Tour: $19
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $19
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: $87
- Airport Pickup with Shanti Stupa-Leh Palace & Monastery Tour: $28
- LADAKH TOUR: $620
- Leh in a Day: Guided Tour of Iconic Landmarks and more: $85
- 4-Day Tour to Leh Ladakh Pangong Lake and Monasteries: $199
- 6-Day Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and Sham Valley Tour: $462
- Electric Cycle Tour with Heritage Walk & Meal: $51
- Electric Cycle Tour with Leh Old Town Heritage Walk: $45
- Ladakh Highlights Tour with Homestay: $271
- Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake 3-Day Tour: $259
- One Night Two Days Pangong Lake Tour with Accommodation: $203
- Overnight Pangong Tour From Leh With Thiksey & Shey Palace: $113
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $2.92Leh $5.29
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.
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.