Which place is cheaper, Varanasi or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Doha or Varanasi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Varanasi can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Varanasi?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesVaranasi Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $244Varanasi $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $244, while the average daily cost in Varanasi is $31. 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 Doha and Varanasi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119Varanasi $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Varanasi $28
Compare Hotels in Doha and Varanasi
Looking for a hotel in Doha or Varanasi? 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: Doha Hotel Prices and Varanasi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Varanasi $4.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Transfer from Hamad Airport to Doha City - Stress-Free Tranafer: $60
- Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Qatar Doha - Private Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Doha Cruise Port to Doha City Hotels: $56
- Private Transfer from Doha City Hotels to Doha Cruise Port: $56
- Private Doha Airport Transfer | Hamad Airport (DOH): $40
- Private Arrival Transfer to Sumaysimah: $70
- Private Arrival Transfer to Doha City: $31
- Hamad Airport Transfer Service – 24/7 Door-to-Door Transport: $98
- From North of Qatar Guided Tour with Transfers: $35
- Entry to Angry Birds World with Transfer to Park and Top Up- Private Tour: $174
- Hamad DOH Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.84
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Rickshaw Ride$0.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer from Varanasi Hotel to Airport: $28
- Private Transfer Varanasi to Bodhgaya - One Way: $98
- Private Transfer from Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport to Varanasi: $43
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Station to Hotel: $10
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $21
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $13
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $11
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $11
- Varanasi Hotels to Varanasi Airport drop: Private Transfers: $11
- Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer: $135
- Airport Pickup/Drop Transfer Service: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Varanasi?
Prices for flights to both Varanasi and Doha 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 dayDoha $106Varanasi $11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $25
- Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
- Sunset Experience, Traditional Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $35
- Doha Evening Dhow Cruise with Dinner Option: $39
- Evening Dhow Cruise with Optional BBQ Dinner: $49
- Traditional Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner on board: $50
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $55
- Private Souk Waqif Tour with Lunch/Dinner: $85
- Doha Desert Safari: Sunset Dune Bashing Camp Access & Dinner: $135
- Full Day Desert Safari with Inland Sea Visit and Buffet Dinner: $150
- Doha Desert Safari Full day With Dinner,Dune Bashing,Sandboarding: $152
- 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour: Highlights Tour with Tasting &Sunset in Varanasi: $14
- Cooking Class with Sona: $29
- Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $29
- Ganga Aarti with Street Food Tour of Varanasi: $40
- Half-Day Varanasi Village Tour with Cooking Class & Local Dining: $40
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Shobha: $40
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Traditional Indian Cooking Class with Dinner: $42
- Private Street Food Tour with 8+ Tastings & Pickup: $44
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $44
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $50
- Dashashwamedh Ganga Arati from balcony with Street Food Tour: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Varanasi $9.24
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $23
- 4 Hour Doha City Night Private Tour with Pickup from Doha: $50
- 4 Hour Doha City Tour from Airport, Hotel & Cruise Terminal: $57
- 4 Hours Purple Island Mangroves Kayaking Adventure in Qatar: $120
- 4 Hours-Doha City Tour from AirPort/ Hotel: $54
- 4 Hrs Private Doha Tour: Discover the City’s Premier Attractions!: $115
- 4-Hour Private Group City Tour in Doha, Qatar: $45
- 4-Hours Guided City Tour in Doha (Souq, Katara, Pearl, Lusail): $60
- 6 Hours Private Full Day Tour in Doha: $109
- 8 Hours Doha City and West of Qatar Private Tour: $145
- 8-hour Doha tour: Cultural site, Heritage market, Modern Landmark: $149
- Al Thakira Mangrove Kayaking Tour – Purple Island, Qatar: $125
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride$0.74
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Sunrise Boat Tour: $3.17
- Photo tour in holy Varanasi: $7.40
- Spiritual and Heritage Walking Tour in Varanasi: $11
- Temple Walk Tour Varanasi: $11
- Cultural & Spiritual Trails of Old Town Varanasi Guided Walking Tour: $11
- Private Customizable Walking Tour with Local Guide: $11
- Classic 1 Day Private Guided Tour With Boat Ride: $11
- Cycle of Life, Death & Rebirth (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Mysticism of Varanasi with Ganga Aarti (2 Hours Walking Tour): $12
- Exploring Varanasi Markets: Guided Tour with Local Guide: $12
- Varanasi Spiritual Trails: Guided Tour by Foot with a Local: $12
- Explore the Old Varanasi City: Guided Walking Tour on foot: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Varanasi $6.91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Varanasi, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East and Varanasi is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Varanasi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Varanasi?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Doha and Varanasi, 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.