Which place is cheaper, Leh 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 Leh?
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 Leh can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Leh?
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.
Leh
Leh is a small town located in the Indus river valley at a crossroads of the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and Kashmir. Today, the town is best known for its Buddhist sites and nearby trekking areas. It is situated in northern India, amidst the mountainous Himalayan range.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United Arab Emirates, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Luxury Tours to India, and The Best Budget Tours to India.
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Dubai Prices
UAE PricesLeh Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $289Leh $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in Leh is $48. 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 Leh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Leh $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Leh $34
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Leh
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Leh? 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 Leh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Leh $7.77
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 Ski Dubai/Wild Wadi: $15
- Private Departure Transfer from Dubai to Dubai Airport: $16
- Dubai Airport Transfer to Dubai Hotels: $18
- Dubai Lost Chamber Aquarium Atlantis Ticket wth optional transfer: $19
- Dubai Airport Transfer to/from all Terminals: $19
- Arrival Transfer: Dubai International Airport to Dubai: $20
- Dubai Frame Admission Ticket with Transfer Option: $20
- Dubai Frame Ticket with Optional Private Transfer: $20
- Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Dubai Airport (DXB): $20
- Dubai Airport Private one way Arrival or Departure Transfer: $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:
- Ladakh: 5-Day Family Tour with Accommodation & Transfers: $378
- Leh Airport Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Leh?
Prices for flights to both Leh 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 $96Leh $23
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 Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet: $15
- Catamaran Cruise with Dinner at Al Jaddaf Dubai: $17
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $17
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
- Catamaran Cruise with Dinner at Al Jaddaf Waterfront Dubai: $17
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner at Dubai Al Seef: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek with pickup & drop off: $19
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Leh $14
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: $5.38
- Dubai Fountain Boardwalk Entry Ticket: $5.45
- Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.81
- Dubai Old Town Self-Guided Tour and Exploration Game: $7.00
- Old Town Tour with Museums, Souks, and Boat Trip: $7.49
- Old Guided Tour with Boat Ride and Souks: $8.17
- City Tour with Gandoura Dress and Emirati Food Tasting: $8.58
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with optional transport: $9.00
- Ancient Dubai, Hidden Gems, Souks and Museums Tour: $9.07
- Global village tickets Skip the ticket line: $9.77
- Old Dubai Guided Tour With Photographer: Souks & Street Food: $10
- Old Town, Souk, Street Food, Museums Tour & Abra Ride: $10
Tours and Activities in Leh
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:
- "Leh to Pangong Lake Sameday tour: A Day of Tranquil Wonders: $85
- Airport Pickup with Shanti Stupa-Leh Palace & Monastery Tour: $30
- Chadar Trek Frozen River Trekking Tour: $311
- From Srinagar: Private Himalayan 11-Day Tour to Ladakh: $1,507
- LADAKH TOUR: $650
- Leh Explorer: One-Day Cultural and Scenic Adventure: $57
- Leh Ladakh Tour 3N 4Day with "Airport pick up and Drop off": $361
- Nubra Valley 2-Day Tour with Khardung-La Pass: $142
- The Ultimate Leh-Ladakh Experience: From Valleys to Lakes: $416
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Leh $5.51
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: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Leh, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Leh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Leh 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 Leh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leh 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 Leh.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Leh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Leh?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Leh, 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.