Which place is cheaper, Ubud or Chennai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chennai or Ubud?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Ubud? 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 Ubud?
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.
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, and The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $29Ubud $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $29, while the average daily cost in Ubud is $150. 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 Ubud in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Ubud $133
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Ubud $266
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Ubud
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Ubud? 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 Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.61Ubud $1.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
- Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
- Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer: $246
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $145
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- All Inclusive:Bali to Gili Islands | Snorkeling + Transfers + Stay-3Days/2Nights: $299
- Private Tour 3 Day Exploring Bali Including Airport Transfer And Lunch: $297
- 4 Days Bali Tour with ATV Ride and Airport Transfer: $262
- Bali Budget 5 Days, Tours & Air Port Transfers : $237
- Bali New Kuta Golf Package with Private Transfer: $205
- Private Tour: Amazing 3 Days Bali Sightseeing Tour Package with Airport Transfer: $170
- Actively enjoy marine sports / popular flyboard + selectable marine sports (parasailing, etc.) round-trip hotel transfer included: $165
- Actively enjoy marine sports / 4 types of marine sports to choose from (parasailing, jet skiing, etc.) / Round trip hotel transfer included: $165
- 2 Days 1 Night Bali Nusa Penida Private Tour with Transfer: $165
- 3 Days Bali Tour Package with Airport Transfer: $164
- Jumping Sliding at Aling-aling waterfall with hotel transfer: $117
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bali Airport to Singaraja or Lovina: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Ubud?
Prices for flights to both Ubud 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 $6.40Ubud $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Street Food Tour in Sowcarpet Chennai : $37
- Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai: $46
- Private Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai : $48
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai with Menna: $54
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
- Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local: $76
- Private 3-Hour Cooking Lesson and Meal in Chennai: $100
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $216
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Canggu: Drag Show with Dinner: $10
- Jimbaran Bay Sunset Dinner with Discount Voucher and Return Transport : $12
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Balinese Traditional Cooking Classes with Market Tour: $22
- Balinese Traditional Cooking Class with Market Tour: $22
- Ubud Cooking : All Inclusive Cooking Class: $23
- Cooking Class with Transfers and Optional Market Visit: $23
- Balinese Cooking Class and Market Tour with Transfers: $23
- Balinese Cooking Class with Hotel Transfers: $26
- Jimbaran Beach Candle Light Dinner : $26
- Best of Ubud with Cooking Class Experience: $26
- Bali Amazing Cooking Class: $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.77Ubud $10
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Chennai Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Spiritual Trails of Chennai (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Explore Chennai in Nightlights (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Walking Tour Chennai: $14
- Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $16
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $16
- Magical Chennai Markets Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- 2 Hour Street Food Walking Tour: $21
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $26
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $26
- Chennai Food Tasting Trails (2 Hour Guided Tour Experience): $26
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- All Inclusive Tour in Nusa Lembongan Islands : $145
- BALI INSTAGRAM TOUR Private Tour with Wifi onboard: $87
- Bali : Best Private Day Tour with Private Driver : $26
- Bali : Customized Tour Sekumpul Waterfalls & Handara gate Heaven: $36
- Bali Royal palaces (observe tour): $88
- Barong Dance and Waterfall tour in Bali: $35
- Best of Ubud Tours with Jungle Swing ( All Inclusive ): $83
- Gate Of Heaven Lempuyang Temple Tours with Blue Lagoon Snorkeling: $35
- Hidden Waterfall And Traditional Village Tour: $43
- Monkey Forest, Temple, Waterfall and Rice Terrace in Ubud Tour: $33
- Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Adventure With Guide: $30
- Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour & Natural Hot Spring: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $3.08Ubud $6.88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Ubud, we can see that Ubud 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud 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 Ubud Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Ubud?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Chennai and Ubud, 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.