Should you visit Delhi or Pokhara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Delhi or Pokhara, 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 Pokhara?
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.
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best Budget Tours to India, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
Which place is cheaper, Pokhara or Delhi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Delhi is $48, while the average daily cost in Pokhara is $22. 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 Pokhara in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Delhi or Pokhara? 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
Pokhara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:
-
Tuk Tuk Ride
$0.10
-
Taxi to Airport
$1.68
-
Subway
$0.34
-
Uber Cab
$0.84
-
Delhi Metro Smart Card
$1.57
-
Auto-rickshaw
$1.05
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
-
3-Day City Tour of Old and New Delhi with Airport Transfers:
$208
-
4 Hrs Private Old Delhi Tour covering Temple ,Spice Market with Transfers:
$43
-
A Delectable Meal At The Great Kebab Factory with Private Transfer:
$172
-
Affordable transfer from Delhi to Dehradun:
$37
-
Affordable transfer from Delhi to Rishikesh:
$35
-
Akshardham Temple Exhibition Light and Water Show with Transfers:
$89
-
Akshardham Temple Exhibition, Light & Water Show with Transfers:
$71
-
Akshardham Temple Tour with hotel transfers:
$54
-
Akshardham Tour Exhibition Light and Water show with Transfer:
$89
-
An Evening at the Akshardham Temple with Water Show with Private Transfer:
$88
-
Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Delhi:
$33
-
Arrival and Departure transfer to Airport in Delhi:
$80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
-
Comfortable Private Transfer from Pokhara to Chitwan:
$66
-
From 4-Day Poon Hill Trek with Transfers:
$130
-
From Private Car Transfer To Chitwan:
$59
-
Intercity transfer by private car all over Nepal:
$54
-
Pokhara ↔️ Kathmandu: VIP Luxury Sofa Bus Transfer (Rainbow):
$16
-
Pokhara Airport Shuttles & Private Transfer:
$15
-
Pokhara to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car:
$80
-
Pokhara to Kathmandu Transfer by Private Car:
$99
-
Pokhara to Kathmandu: One Way Private Transfer:
$295
-
Airport Transfer by Private Car:
$11
-
Annapurna Foothills Day Hike with Transfers:
$38
-
Kusma Swing Jumping Experience with Transfer:
$150
Is it cheaper to fly into Delhi or Pokhara?
Prices for flights to both Pokhara 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Delhi $18
Pokhara $12
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.
-
Old Delhi Food Tour: 8 Tastings & Tuk-Tuk Ride with Local Expert:
$17
-
Delhi Guided Half Day Food Tour in Famous Markets:
$19
-
Learn Indian Cooking From A Chef - Private Cooking Class:
$22
-
Delhi Private Cooking Class:
$25
-
Old Delhi Food Tour Extravaganza!:
$26
-
Online: Indian Food Cooking Class:
$29
-
Old Delhi Street Food Tour – Explore Spices in Chandni Chowk:
$30
-
Old Delhi Food Tour with Pickup and Drop Off:
$32
-
Old Delhi Food Tour: Street Food, Rickshaw & Spice Market:
$35
-
Traditional Indian Cooking Class with Family Experience:
$36
-
Transit Tour-Guided Best Old Delhi's Attractions & Food Tour:
$39
-
4-Hour Old Delhi Evening Walking Tour with Local Dinner & Guide:
$40
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
-
Dinner for Two
$3.95
-
Dessert (for 2)
$2.63
-
Pastries
$1.32
-
Dinner
$5.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
-
Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara:
$21
-
Nepalese Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class (Cook with Delight):
$25
-
Nepali Nights: Dinner & Cultural Dance Delight in Pokhara:
$26
-
MoMo or Dal Bhat Cooking Class at Aama Kitchen in Pokhara:
$29
-
Nepalese Kitchen in Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class:
$29
-
3 Hour MoMo cooking class:
$31
-
Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop:
$42
-
3 Hour Authentic Nepali Thakali Dish Cooking Class:
$45
-
Pokhara Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path and Local Food Tour:
$50
-
3 Hours Momo Cooking class in Pokhara:
$70
-
1 Day Momo making cooking class:
$75
-
Tour with Dinner to Trout Fish Farm - Bhujung River:
$98
Entertainment
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:
-
Delhi Old and New Full Or Half Day Tour:
$3.76
-
Driving tours through beautiful India:
$4.01
-
Private Guided Full Day Tour Of Old And New Delhi:
$4.50
-
3-Day Private Luxury Golden Triangle Tour: Delhi, Agra & Jaipur:
$4.73
-
From 4-Day Private Golden Triangle Tour with Taj Sunrise:
$4.73
-
4-Day Private Golden Triangle Tour with Taj Mahal & Express Train:
$4.73
-
From Private 7-Day Golden Triangle Tour with Goa by Flight:
$4.73
-
From Delhi : 7-Day Private Golden Triangle Tour with Amritsar:
$4.73
-
3-Day Golden Triangle Private Tour With Taj mahal & Luxury Hotels:
$4.73
-
5-Day Luxury Golden Triangle Tour with Taj Hotels & Taj Sunrise:
$4.73
-
Delhi 9-Day Golden Triangle Tour with Jodhpur Jaisalmer & Udaipur:
$4.73
-
Private Sameday Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi By Car – All Inclusive:
$5.00
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Sarangkot Sunrise with Half or Full-Day City Tour:
$7.47
-
From Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour:
$7.84
-
Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas: Tour 3 hour private tour:
$9.16
-
Quick Devi’s Water Fall Tour:
$9.26
-
Visit Best Seven Tourist Destination by Sharing Bus:
$9.52
-
Guided Evening Walking Tour in Lakeside:
$9.52
-
City Sightseeing Group Budget Bus Tour:
$10
-
Pokhara Places of Interest Tour by Sharing Bus:
$10
-
Paragliding, Bungy Jump and Zipline Combo Adventure:
$10
-
City Sightseeing Group Bus Tour:
$10
-
Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas Group Joining Tour:
$10
-
Peace Pagoda Sunset, Annapurna Mountain Views Tour:
$11
Alcohol
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):
$29
-
Pub Crawl Delhi:
$34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Delhi and Pokhara, we can see that Delhi is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara 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 Pokhara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Delhi Expensive? and Is Pokhara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Delhi or Pokhara?
Delhi has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Pokhara. When comparing the sizes of Delhi and Pokhara, 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.
Related Articles for Delhi
Related Articles for Pokhara