Which place is cheaper, Amritsar or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Amritsar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Amritsar? 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: Darjiling or Amritsar?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
Amritsar
Amritsar is a holy city of the Sikh religion, named "holy pool of nectar" for the pool around the base of the Golden Temple complex. This complex is the city's main attraction, bringing pilgrims from all over to bathe in the waters of the sacred pool and visit the sacred temple.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, and The Best Budget Tours to India.
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Darjiling Prices
India PricesAmritsar Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $44Amritsar $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $44, while the average daily cost in Amritsar is $66. 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 Darjiling and Amritsar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Amritsar $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Amritsar $44
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Amritsar
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Amritsar? 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Amritsar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.40Amritsar $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $73
- Private Transfers Darjeeling - Gangtok Drop: $121
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amritsar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amritsar:
- Amritsar 02 days :Wagha border: Airport transfer Eng. guide: $213
- Private Wagah Border Drama and the Golden Temple with Transfer: $126
- Amritsar to Dharamshala Tour (One Way Transfer): $98
- Create Your Own: Customisable tour of Amritsar with transfers: $77
- Half Day city tour with Lunch & transfers: $60
- Half Day city tour with Lunch & transfers: $60
- From Amritsar Airport Transfer: $27
- Affordable Amritsar airport transfer: $11
- Amritsar Airport: One-Way Transfer Arrival and Departure: $8.27
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Amritsar?
Prices for flights to both Amritsar and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $24Amritsar $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amritsar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amritsar.
- Authentic Home Cooking Class with a Local: $21
- Amritsar Food Tour with a Sikh: $25
- Amritsar Food Tour: $25
- Amritsar Food Tour: $30
- Wagah Border Retreat Ceremony With Traditional Dinner: $45
- Wagah Border Retreat Ceremony With Dinner: $45
- Evening Tour to Sadda Pind with Dinner: $60
- Indo-Pak Beating Retreat Ceremony at Wagah Border & Dinner: $67
- Beating Retreat Ceremony, Sadda Pind and Dinner: $71
- Tanya's kitchen: A Hands-On Punjabi Cooking Class in Amritsar: $85
- Sadda Pind With Lunch Or Dinner From Amritsar: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Amritsar $15
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $30
- Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $61
- Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $61
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $64
- Private Calcutta Tour With Guide and Authentic Bengali lunch: $75
- Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $81
- Best of Gangtok (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $83
Tours and Activities in Amritsar
Here are a few actual costs in Amritsar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amritsar & Golden Temple Tour From Delhi By Train 2D/1N: $165
- Amritsar - Half day City tour (In & Around Golden Temple): $35
- Amritsar 1 Day Guided Tour-Golden Temple, Jalliawala Bagh, Wagah: $53
- Amritsar 1 Day Sightseeing with Wagah Border: $35
- Amritsar 1 Day Tour (Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border & Shopping): $39
- Amritsar 1 Day Tour: Golden Temple, Jalianwala Bagh, Wagah Border: $54
- Amritsar : Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh Private Tour: $47
- Amritsar City Tour: $204
- Amritsar City Tour: $41
- Amritsar City Tour ( EXCLUDING WAGAH BORDER) : $60
- Amritsar City Tour ( Including Wagah Border Ceremony): $60
- Amritsar City Tour (Golden Temple, Wagah Border): $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.67Amritsar $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Amritsar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Amritsar:
- Pub Crawl Amritsar (3 hours pub hopping tour): $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Amritsar, we can see that Amritsar is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Amritsar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amritsar than you might in Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Amritsar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Amritsar?
Amritsar has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Amritsar, 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.