Should you visit Delhi or Darjiling?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Delhi or Darjiling, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Delhi
Delhi is the largest city in northern India and is officially the country's capital. The city has a population of 11 million with the metropolitan population reaching over 16 million. The city is similar in landscape to the rest of its surrounding area. It is very flat with the river Yamuna flowing on the eastern side of the city. The Aravalii Hills are in the western portion of the city. The city's history dates back to the 6th century BC and it has served as a capital for various kingdoms and empires.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Darjiling or Delhi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Delhi is $40, while the average daily cost in Darjiling is $32. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Delhi and Darjiling in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Delhi is about $42 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $24 in Darjiling For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $10 per day in Delhi for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
On average, meal and food prices in Darjiling cost around $13 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $5.20.
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Food
Meals for one day
Delhi $10
Darjiling $13
Typical Food prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Delhi:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.
-
Local Uttrakhand Cuisine Cooking Class in Rishikesh:
$9.89
-
Udaipur Food Tour:
$12
-
Authentic Indian Tea Brewing and Paratha Cooking Private Online Class:
$15
-
Hyderabad Street Food Tour:
$16
-
Wagah Beating Retreat Border Ceremony (with Dinner) in Amritsar:
$16
-
Authentic Maharashtrian Cuisine Private Virtual Cooking Class from Mumbai:
$18
-
Mandovi River Dinner Cruise in Goa:
$19
-
Cooking Class And Dining Experience In Varanasi:
$20
-
North Kerala Culinary Food Tour in Thalassery:
$24
-
Mumbai Walking Food Tour:
$25
-
Cooking and Dining Experience in Agra:
$27
-
Cooking Class with a Local Family in Mumbai:
$36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Darjiling
For Darjiling, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Local Uttrakhand Cuisine Cooking Class in Rishikesh:
$9.89
-
Udaipur Food Tour:
$12
-
Authentic Indian Tea Brewing and Paratha Cooking Private Online Class:
$15
-
Hyderabad Street Food Tour:
$16
-
Wagah Beating Retreat Border Ceremony (with Dinner) in Amritsar:
$16
-
Authentic Maharashtrian Cuisine Private Virtual Cooking Class from Mumbai:
$18
-
Mandovi River Dinner Cruise in Goa:
$19
-
Cooking Class And Dining Experience In Varanasi:
$20
-
North Kerala Culinary Food Tour in Thalassery:
$24
-
Mumbai Walking Food Tour:
$25
-
Cooking and Dining Experience in Agra:
$27
-
Cooking Class with a Local Family in Mumbai:
$36
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Delhi is $4.96 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Darjiling, the average visitor spends $6.81 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:
-
Tuk Tuk Ride
$0.14
-
Taxi to Airport
$2.18
-
Subway
$0.44
-
Uber Cab
$1.09
-
Delhi Metro Smart Card
$2.04
-
Auto-rickshaw
$1.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
-
Private City Transfers between Manali and Leh:
$267
-
Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Day Tour from Delhi with Private Transfer & Guide:
$190
-
One Way Delhi To Udaipur Transfer:
$160
-
One Way Delhi To Pushkar Transfer:
$112
-
Private City Transfers between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, Daman & Diu:
$96
-
Private City Transfers from Mumbai to Gokarna, Kolhapur & Aurangabad:
$74
-
One-Way Private Transfer from Delhi to Jaipur:
$73
-
Private City Transfers between Bangalore and Hampi:
$69
-
Private Transfers From Delhi To Jim Corbett National Park:
$59
-
Private City Transfers between Amritsar and Dalhousie, Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala or Bir:
$59
-
Private City Transfers between Agra and Meerut, Kanpur and Jhansi:
$58
-
Private City Transfers between Ahmedabad and Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh:
$58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Taj Mahal Private Day Tour from Delhi with One Way Airport Transfer:
$23
-
Cochin International Airport Private Transfers (COK) for Munnar:
$55
-
Private Amritsar International Airport Transfers (ATQ) for Amritsar :
$13
-
Private Bagdogra Airport (IXB) Transfers for Gangtok:
$51
-
Private Chandigarh International Airport (IXC) Transfers for Chandigarh:
$15
-
Private Chennai International Airport Transfers (MAA) for Chennai:
$17
-
Private Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport Transfers (BOM) for Mumbai:
$12
-
Private City Transfers Between Kolkata and Digha, Mandarmani, Shantiniketan, or Bishnupur:
$43
-
Private City Transfers between Agra and Mathura, Vrindavan, or Gwalior:
$45
-
Private City Transfers between Agra and Meerut, Kanpur and Jhansi:
$58
-
Private City Transfers between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, Daman & Diu:
$96
-
Private City Transfers between Ahmedabad and Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh:
$58
Is it cheaper to fly into Delhi or Darjiling?
Prices for flights to both Darjiling and Delhi 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.
Entertainment
Delhi's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $12 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Darjiling, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $11 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Delhi
Here are a few typical costs in Delhi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Delhi
Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Explore Old City of Hyderabad with Experienced Storyteller Online Experience:
$19
-
Instagram Tour in Delhi:
$101
-
Lamadug Trekking Day Tour from Manali:
$21
-
Mathura Vrindavan, Taj Mahal and Agra City Private Day Tour from Delhi:
$118
-
09 Days Private Golden Triangle tour with Hindu Pilgrimage Haridwar & Rishikesh:
$421
-
1 Day Delhi and 1 Day Agra Tour From Delhi with Taj Mahal:
$453
-
1 Day Delhi and 1 Day Agra Tour From Delhi with Taj Mahal - All Inclusive:
$221
-
1 Day Private Delhi Sightseeing by car:
$56
-
1 Day Visit to Taj Mahal & Agra Fort with Entrance Tickets:
$168
-
1-Day 3 cities tour including Trip to The Taj Mahal, Agra and Jaipur from Delhi:
$195
-
10 Days Rajasthan Tour:
$612
-
10-Day Spiti Valley Bike Tour:
$420
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
-
Shaniwar Wada Fort Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket:
$0.35
-
Palace of Tipu Sultan Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket:
$0.39
-
Akbar's Tomb Entry Ticket in Agra:
$0.39
-
Bekal Fort Entry Ticket:
$0.50
-
Golconda Fort Fast-Track Ticket:
$0.55
-
Safdarjung Tomb Entry Ticket:
$0.55
-
Daria Daulat Bagh Entry Ticket in Srirangapatna:
$0.55
-
Purana Qila Fast-Track Ticket:
$0.55
-
Gwalior Fort Entry Ticket in Madhya Pradesh:
$0.55
-
Ancient Leh Palace Entry Tickets:
$0.55
-
Bellary Fort Entry Ticket:
$0.55
-
Dindigul Fort Entry Ticket:
$0.55
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Delhi may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.89 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Darjiling, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $7.98.
Sample the Local Flavors in Delhi
Also in Delhi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Pub Crawl in Delhi:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Pune:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Mumbai:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Jaipur:
$18
-
Udaipur Pub Crawl:
$19
-
South Mumbai Pub Crawl:
$19
-
Pub Crawl In Bangalore:
$19
-
Pub Crawl in Goa:
$20
-
Sula Vineyards with Wine Tasting Day Tour from Mumbai:
$49
Sample the Local Flavors in Darjiling
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Darjiling:
-
Pub Crawl in Delhi:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Pune:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Mumbai:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Jaipur:
$18
-
Udaipur Pub Crawl:
$19
-
South Mumbai Pub Crawl:
$19
-
Pub Crawl In Bangalore:
$19
-
Pub Crawl in Goa:
$20
-
Sula Vineyards with Wine Tasting Day Tour from Mumbai:
$49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Delhi and Darjiling, we can see that Delhi 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 Delhi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Delhi than you might in Darjiling.
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