Which place is cheaper, Kolkata (Calcutta) or Dubai?
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 Dubai or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Kolkata (Calcutta) can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal, India. Featuring colonial architecture, galleries, temples, and festivals, the city has flourished from its roots as an East India Company trading post in the 18th Century to a thriving metropolis. Today Kolkata is a diverse center of culture and bustling activity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India, and The Best Photography Tours in India.
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Dubai Prices
UAE PricesKolkata (Calcutta) Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $289Kolkata (Calcutta) $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in Kolkata (Calcutta) is $47. 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 Dubai and Kolkata (Calcutta) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Kolkata (Calcutta) $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Kolkata (Calcutta) $32
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Kolkata (Calcutta)
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Kolkata (Calcutta)? 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Kolkata (Calcutta) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Kolkata (Calcutta) $5.05
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with Optional transfer: $9.20
- Global Village with Entrance Ticket and Transfers : $11
- Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Aquaventure/Lost Chamber: $18
- Sharing Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa, VR Parks, DAUZ): $18
- Dubai Frame Tickets with Optional Transfer: $18
- Dubai Airport Transfer to Dubai Hotels: $18
- Private Transfer to Any Attraction in Dubai: $18
- Global Village Dubai Tickets with Transfers Option: $18
- Dubai Airport Private Departure and Arrival Airport Transfer: $19
- Dubai Lost Chamber Aquarium Atlantis Ticket wth optional transfer: $19
- Dubai Airport Transfer to/from all Terminals: $19
- Dubai Frame Admission Ticket with Transfer Option: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kolkata (Calcutta):
- The Second City of Empire: A Kolkata Heritage Walking Tour with Private Transfer: $134
- Kolkata 8 Hour Private City Tour Including Hotel Transfers by Car: $86
- Build Your Own: custom private tour of Kolkata with transfers: $69
- Kolkata - Arrival transfer from Airport to Hotel: $28
- Departure transfer from Hotel to Airport in Kolkata: $23
- Private Transfer Kolkata Airport CCU To Kolkata Hotels Drop: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Prices for flights to both Kolkata (Calcutta) and Dubai 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 dayDubai $96Kolkata (Calcutta) $24
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.53
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Old Dubai Souks, Abra Ride, and Street Food Tour: $10
- Old Town, Creek, Museums, Souks, & Street Food Tour: $11
- Al-Seef Premium Dinner Cruise: $13
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
- Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
- Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner in Deira Creek - Dubai: $18
- Desert Safari With Camel Ride and Dinner: $19
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek: $19
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $19
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner - Creek: $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kolkata (Calcutta).
- Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $35
- Alleyway Food Tour: $48
- Dinner Cruise on Ganges Kolkata 3Hrs: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Kolkata (Calcutta) $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Dubai: $5.37
- Old Dubai, Creek & Souks Tour, Tastings, & Abra Ride: $5.45
- Dubai Fountain Boardwalk Entry Ticket: $5.45
- A Self-Guided Tour of Dubai’s Origins in Deira: $5.99
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.47
- Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.81
- Old Town Tour with Museums, Souks, and Boat Trip: $7.49
- Old Guided Tour with Boat Ride and Souks: $8.17
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with optional transport: $9.00
- Dubai Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Ancient Dubai, Hidden Gems, Souks and Museums Tour: $9.07
- Dubai Fountain Walk Bridge Experience: $9.49
Tours and Activities in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kolkata (Calcutta) are as follows:
- 02 Days Guided Private Tour of Kolkata : $225
- 2 days private tour of kolkata city and Bishnupur by car: $280
- Audio Guided Tour of Maidan – Calcutta Sports Walk: $6.12
- Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour: $36
- Custom Private Kolkata Sightseeing Trip with Optional Guided Trip: $24
- Experience Kolkata in 2 Days like never before - Private Tour: $170
- Explore Kolkata- Private Full Day Tour: $110
- Full Day Kolkata City Tour : $76
- Full Day Pilgrimage Tour of Ganga Sagar from Kolkata: $100
- Guided Kolkata Sightseeing Trip by Car, Walk & Sunset Cruise Excursion Trip: $109
- Half Day Tour to the Flower Market and Howrah Bridge in Kolkata: $85
- Hello Calcutta Walk Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Kolkata (Calcutta) $8.17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $56
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $59
- Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Kolkata (Calcutta), we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Kolkata (Calcutta) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Kolkata (Calcutta).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Kolkata (Calcutta) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Kolkata (Calcutta) has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Kolkata (Calcutta), 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.