Which place is cheaper, Darjiling or Delhi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Delhi or Darjiling?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Delhi or Darjiling, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Delhi or Darjiling?
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best Budget Tours to India, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New Delhi, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDelhi $45Darjiling $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Delhi is $45, while the average daily cost in Darjiling is $35. 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 Delhi and Darjiling in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDelhi $23Darjiling $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDelhi $46Darjiling $26
Compare Hotels in Delhi and Darjiling
Looking for a hotel in Delhi or Darjiling? 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: Delhi Hotel Prices and Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Delhi $5.29Darjiling $7.49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.12
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Taxi to Airport$1.92
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Subway$0.38
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Uber Cab$0.96
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Delhi Metro Smart Card$1.80
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Auto-rickshaw$1.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
- 3-Days Delhi and Varanasi Tour by Express Train.Includes,Hotel Transfers.: $275
- Enjoy South Indian Cuisine At Dakshin - Sheraton New Delhi with Private Transfer: $255
- From Taj Mahal & Agra Private Day Trip with Transfers: $229
- Private Transfer: Delhi to Corbett National Park with Brunch: $224
- 3-Days Amritsar tour from Delhi Includes Hotel,Train tickets & Transfers: $200
- A Delectable Meal At The Great Kebab Factory with Private Transfer: $172
- Private Transfer New Delhi To Shimla : $150
- Private Transfers Delhi To Ajmer Drop: $147
- Private Transfer Delhi to Jaipur: $135
- One Way Private Transfer Delhi to Manali: $130
- Private Transfers Delhi To Vrindavan Drop: $122
- Captivating Walk through Old Delhi's Colorful Chandni Chowk & Private Transfer: $122
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 Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $55
- Private Transfers Darjeeling - Gangtok Drop: $122
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $182
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDelhi $12Darjiling $14
Typical Food Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Delhi:
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McDonalds$3.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.
- Old Delhi Food Tour Safari - The Capital of Flavors: $7.86
- Appetizing virtual cooking class from Delhi: $20
- The Legendary Delhi Belly Food Tour: $29
- Old Delhi Food Tour Extravaganza!: $30
- Food Tour in Delhi: $31
- Online: Indian Food Cooking Class: $33
- Cooking Demo + Lunch/Dinner and interaction with an Indian family @ Chez Anjali: $35
- Old Delhi Food Tour: A Night Time Feast: $36
- Discover Old 4-Hour Evening Walking Tour includes Guide & Dinner: $40
- Transit Tour-Guided Best Old Delhi's Attractions & Food Tour: $45
- Chandni Chowk Old Delhi Food Tour with Spice Market: $45
- Half Day Old Delhi Street Food Tour With Hotel Round Transfer : $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Delhi $13Darjiling $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Delhi
Here are a few typical costs in Delhi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Red Fort$10
Tours and Activities in Delhi
Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Days Agra Tour From Delhi with Fatehpur Sikri & bird Sanctuary: $190
- 2-Day Agra Taj Mahal Overnight Tour from Delhi: $199
- 3 Day Golden Triangle Tour from Delhi: $132
- 3 Days Golden Triangle Tour from Delhi: $194
- 6 Hours: Delhi Temples and Spiritual Sites Tour: $45
- Agra Same Day Private Tour From Delhi: $82
- Bharatpur Birding adventure from Delhi: $159
- Customize Tip Based Tour of Old and New Delhi: $5.00
- Delhi Agra Jaipur 3 Days Golden Triangle Tour From New Delhi: $50
- Delhi Evening City Tour with Guide: $53
- Delhi Local tour with Agra, 2 Days Tour (All inclusive) : $194
- Taj Mahal Private Tour By Car with Round-Trip: $75
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
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $24
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $55
- Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $61
- Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $61
- Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
- Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDelhi $8.68Darjiling $8.78
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 (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $28
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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Delhi Expensive? and Is Darjiling Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Delhi or Darjiling?
Delhi has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Delhi and Darjiling, 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.