Which place is cheaper, Kanazawa or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Kanazawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Kanazawa? 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 Kanazawa?
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.
Kanazawa
An important city of the Edo-period, Kanazawa is a well preserved city from a time when samurai, merchants, geisha, and lords made up the core of its culture. Though it is often overlooked by foreigners, the city is a gem of Japanese tourism with a number of preserved historic districts, temples, regional handicrafts, art museums, and some of the best food to be had in Japan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $35Kanazawa $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Kanazawa is $103. 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 Kanazawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Kanazawa $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Kanazawa $128
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Kanazawa
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Kanazawa? 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 Kanazawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.48Kanazawa $9.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197
- Private Transfers Darjeeling - Gangtok Drop: $98
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanazawa
Also for Kanazawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Noto Airport to/from Kanazawa City Private Transfer: $308
- Kanazawa City to/from Wakura City Private transfer: $247
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Kanazawa?
Prices for flights to both Kanazawa 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 $14Kanazawa $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanazawa
For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sneaking into a Cooking Class for Japanese: $57
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $76
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Kanazawa $9.74
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- 5-Day Private Tour of Gangtok and Darjeeling: $246
- A Full Day Tour Of Darjeeling: $232
- Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
- Best of Gangtok (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $84
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
- Day Trip to Buddha Park (Guided Private Sightseeing Tour from Gangtok): $147
- Day Trip to Darjeeling (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $148
- Day Trip to Gangtok (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $147
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $148
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $147
Tours and Activities in Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- “Be a Local” Kanazawa Izakaya Hop Tour: $79
- 1 Day Tour from Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen: $223
- 1-Day Shirakawago & Takayama Tour (Round Trip from Kanazawa): $169
- 4 Hour Unique Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Sakura Private Experience: $218
- Afternoon Round Trip Tour from Kanazawa: $89
- E-Bike Cycling with Guided Tour of KANAZAWA Main & KENROKUEN: $82
- E-Bike Cycling with Guided Tour of Kanazawa Main and Ninja Temple: $79
- Full-Day Tour from Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha: $151
- Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa: $57
- Hidden Gems Of Private & Personalized Walking Experience: $102
- Kanazawa ⇒ Takayama (one way) Including Shirakawago (Private Tour): $272
- Kanazawa Custom Full Day Tour: $212
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.77Kanazawa $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Kanazawa, we can see that Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Kanazawa?
Kanazawa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Kanazawa, 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.