Which place is cheaper, Sapporo or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Sapporo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Sapporo? 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 Sapporo?
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.
Sapporo
Capital of the northern Japanese island Hokkaido, Sapporo is a city surrounded by mountains and known for its beer, skiing, and annual snow festival with stunning ice sculptures. As host to the 1972 Winter Olympics, the city limits are dotted with ski jumps, hills, and popular ski resorts still in use today.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $35Sapporo $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Sapporo is $106. 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 Sapporo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Sapporo $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Sapporo $126
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Sapporo
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Sapporo? 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 Sapporo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.48Sapporo $15
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 Sapporo
Also for Sapporo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: between Sapporo and Upopoy: $467
- SkyExpress Private Transfer: Sapporo to Otaru (8 Passengers): $289
- Private Transfer from Sapporo hotels to Muroran Cruise Port: $158
- Horseback-Riding in a Country Side in Sapporo - Private Transfer is Included: $154
- Private Transfer from Sapporo City Hotels to Muroran Cruise Port: $143
- Airport Transfer! Hotel in center of Sapporo to New Chitose Airport (CTS): $140
- [Airport Transfer] Smoothly move between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport with a private car! one way: $135
- Sapporo City: Private Transfer to/from New Chitose Airport: $119
- Private Transfer from Sapporo hotels to Otaru Cruise Port: $93
- New Chitose Airport ↔ Sapporo, Best Transfer Pick up Service : $66
- Shin Chitose Airport to/from Sapporo City: Shared Transfer: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Sapporo?
Prices for flights to both Sapporo 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 $14Sapporo $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sapporo
For Sapporo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Market Tour, Cooking Class and Lunch with a Local in Sapporo: $82
- Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour: $82
- Japanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Local Professional in her Lovely Home: $88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Sapporo $16
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 Sapporo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sapporo.
- 2 Day Tour to Icebreaker Mombetsu and Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido: $275
- A Japanese food experience plan in Sapporo where you can enjoy tempura and 3 types of Hokkaido-only sake along with a soba making experience!: $82
- Experience Hokkaido's Summer, Furano, Blue Pond & All-you-can-eat Fresh Melon! : $99
- Experience traditional Japanese cuisine, making soba noodles in Sapporo, in a fun and casual way.: $53
- Exploring Hokkaido Nightlife Susukino Evening Walking Tour: $131
- Friday only! A Japanese food experience where you can enjoy hand-made soba noodles and a luxurious Japanese lunch! !: $164
- From 10-hour Customized Private Tour to Noboribetsu: $2,287
- From Private Customized Day Tour to Biei+Furano: $699
- From Private Customized Day Tour to Otaru: $655
- Full Day Tour Hokkaido Biei Green Pond and Furano Flower Sea: $141
- Half-day (4 hours) Sapporo city Tour: $184
- Hand-rolled sushi experience tour at Sapporo Nijo Market: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.77Sapporo $7.98
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Sapporo, we can see that Sapporo 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 Sapporo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sapporo 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 Sapporo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Sapporo?
Sapporo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Sapporo, 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.