Should you visit Chennai or Mumbai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Mumbai? 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 Mumbai?
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.
Mumbai
Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in India, The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, and The Best Luxury Tours to India.
Which place is cheaper, Mumbai 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 Mumbai is $87. 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 Mumbai in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Mumbai? 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
Mumbai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer:
$234
-
From One-Way Transfer to Kodaikanal Car & Driver:
$190
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels:
$145
-
From Private Transfer to Tanjore Car & Driver:
$133
-
Private Transfer from Chennai to Thiruvannamalai: Ultimate Guide:
$130
-
From One-Way Transfer to Kumbakonam Car & Driver:
$118
-
A Private Transfer: From Chennai to Kanchipuram Car & Driver:
$66
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel:
$40
-
Private Transfer from Chennai (MAA) Airport to Chennai City:
$37
-
Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport:
$37
-
Chennai Private City and Airport Transfer :
$30
-
Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer:
$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Premium Mumbai guided tour with transfer:
$474
-
2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers:
$296
-
Luxury Mumbai Package with Hotel,Private Airport Transfers and Sightseeing Tour:
$270
-
Private Departure Transfer from Mumbai Hotel to Airport Including VIP Assistance:
$204
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel Including VIP Assistance:
$204
-
Mumbai Airport(BOM)to Mumbai Downtown-Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$153
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji Airport (BOM) to Mumbai Downtown:
$137
-
Guided Tour in Bombay aka Mumbai with Free Airport/Hotel Transfer:
$120
-
Private Dharavi Slum Tour Including Car Transfer:
$101
-
Create Your Own: Custom Private Tour of Mumbai with transfers:
$97
-
Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Luxury Van:
$93
-
Mumbai Airport Transfers : Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Luxury Van:
$93
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Mumbai?
Prices for flights to both Mumbai 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 day
Chennai $11
Mumbai $44
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 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
-
Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai:
$216
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Discover Mumbai's street & beach with Vegetarian food tour:
$14
-
Hidden Gems and Street Food Tour:
$15
-
Street Food Tour - Eat like a Local with Sunset view:
$19
-
Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai:
$20
-
Authentic Street Food Tour:
$21
-
Taste of Street Food Tour & Vibrant Bazzars:
$21
-
Walking Street Food Tour, Bazaar, Temples, & More:
$22
-
Unique Street Food Tour with Local Guide:
$24
-
Private Street Food Tour:
$25
-
Mumbai Food Tour:
$25
-
Safe Food Tour in Mumbai for 2 hours:
$31
-
Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home:
$33
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
-
British Buildings & the Story of Chennai walking tour with guide:
$55
-
Chennai Private Tour with Female Guide:
$97
-
Sowcarpet Street Food Walking Tour in Chennai with guide:
$45
-
A Private Day tour from Chennai to Gingee & Thiruvannamalai:
$90
-
Auroville and Pondicherry Tour from Chennai:
$44
-
Birds & Beyond: Chennai to Pulicat Bird Sanctuary Day Tour:
$135
-
British Architecture Walk, an immersive walking tour in Chennai:
$55
-
CHENNAI FULL DAY TOUR:
$72
-
Chennai Full Day Sightseeing in a Private Car:
$69
-
Chennai Full-Day Guided City Tour:
$59
-
Chennai Half Day Guided Tour in a Private Car:
$99
-
Chennai Heritage & Cultural Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour):
$15
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
-
Dharavi Authentic Slum Tour:
$109
-
Kanheri Caves Heritage Tour:
$45
-
Private Full-Day Mumbai Sightseeing Tour with Dharavi Slums:
$53
-
"Best of Mumbai (Guided Full Day Sightseeing City Tour)":
$128
-
"Highlights of Mumbai Guided Half Day Sightseeing City Tour:
$74
-
"Local A True Insider’s Tour":
$30
-
"Mumbai Highlights: An Immersive 6-Hour Half-Day Tour":
$30
-
"Religions of Mumbai (Guided Half Day Sightseeing City Tour):
$80
-
"Speedboat Adventure: Elephanta Caves and Mumbai Highlights":
$178
-
2 Hours Dharavi Slum Tour With Local Guide:
$5.71
-
2-Days Private Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour from Mumbai by Round Trip Flights:
$228
-
2-Hour Guided Tour of Dharavi:
$24
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
-
South Bombay Pub Crawl:
$39
-
South Bombay Pub Crawl:
$39
-
South Bombay Pub Crawl:
$39
-
Mumbai Private Bar Crawl with City Night Tour:
$124
-
Nashik: Private Full-Day Wine Tour with Tastings From Mumbai:
$135
-
Full-Day Private Wine Tour at Sula Vineyards from Mumbai:
$152
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Mumbai, we can see that Mumbai 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 Mumbai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mumbai 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 Mumbai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Mumbai?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chennai. When comparing the sizes of Chennai and Mumbai, 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.
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