Which place is cheaper, Amritsar or Haridwar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Haridwar or Amritsar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Haridwar and Amritsar. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Haridwar or Amritsar?
Haridwar
A spiritual journey is not complete without a trip to Haridwar as it is the lands of legends and tales cleansed by the Holy Ganga and regarded as the Holiest places for washing of sins. Haridwar is located on the foothills of the Himalayas making the place a truly memorable experience. After making a Haridwar Darshan, you will find most of your answers regarding the unknown and uncertainties. Rishikesh is very close to Haridwar, for waking the adrenaline rush in you. One can plan out so many activities to do in Haridwar for a fun filling vacation.
Amritsar
Amritsar is a holy city of the Sikh religion, named "holy pool of nectar" for the pool around the base of the Golden Temple complex. This complex is the city's main attraction, bringing pilgrims from all over to bathe in the waters of the sacred pool and visit the sacred temple.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in India, The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, and The Best Luxury Tours to India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHaridwar $31Amritsar $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Haridwar is $31, while the average daily cost in Amritsar is $53. 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 Haridwar and Amritsar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHaridwar $15Amritsar $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHaridwar $30Amritsar $46
Compare Hotels in Haridwar and Amritsar
Looking for a hotel in Haridwar or Amritsar? 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: Haridwar Hotel Prices and Amritsar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Haridwar $5.30Amritsar $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haridwar
Also for Haridwar, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dehradun- Transfers+Hotel+Sightseeing: $271
- Affordable Dehradun Airport Transfer.: $15
- Affordable Dehradun airport transfer to Rishikesh: $20
- Affordable transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $39
- Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Dehradun Airport: $20
- Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $39
- Delhi To Haridwar Transfer: $75
- Private Transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $44
- Private Transfer from Mussoorie to Delhi: $53
- Private Transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amritsar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amritsar:
- Private Wagah Border Drama and the Golden Temple with Transfer: $151
- Amritsar to Dharamshala Tour (One Way Transfer): $98
- Airport/Hotel Transfer to Chandigarh Airport/Hotel: $71
- Chandigarh to Amritsar Transfer: $71
- From Amritsar Airport Transfer: $28
- Amritsar Airport Transfer: $12
- Affordable Amritsar airport transfer: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Haridwar or Amritsar?
Prices for flights to both Amritsar and Haridwar 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 dayHaridwar $10Amritsar $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Haridwar
For Haridwar, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sattvic Traditional Cooking Classes, Rishikesh India: $35
- Rishikesh Half Day Street Food Tour: $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amritsar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amritsar.
- Amritsar Food Tour: $22
- Flavors of Amritsar (2-Hour Guided Street Food Tour Walk): $24
- Amritsar Food Tour: $31
- Wagah Border Retreat Ceremony With Dinner: $45
- Indo-Pak Beating Retreat Ceremony at Wagah Border & Dinner: $60
- Evening Tour to Sadda Pind with Dinner: $67
- Beating Retreat Ceremony, Sadda Pind and Dinner: $71
- Private Farm-Fresh Punjabi Cooking Class in Amritsar: $136
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Haridwar $9.16Amritsar $15
Tours and Activities in Haridwar
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Haridwar.
- Sightseeing around Mussoorie: $8.10
- Mussoorie Nature Walk Tour: $8.53
- Mussoorie Walking Tour - Hathipaon to Clouds End: $9.22
- Mussoorie Walking Tour: $9.84
- Nature Walk of Mussoorie (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Guided Haunted & Mysterious Walking Tour of Mussoorie: $13
- Guided Night Walking Tour in Rishikesh - Explore the best nightlife with a local: $13
- Experience Spiritual Culture in Rishikesh with a local - A Unique Walking Tour: $14
- Private Walking Tour in Rishikesh: $18
- Guided Food Walking Tour in Rishikesh with a local - Best of Culture & History : $25
- Haridwar Tanga Tour: $29
- Adventure trip in Chakrata : $37
Tours and Activities in Amritsar
Here are a few actual costs in Amritsar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 5-hour Amritsar city tour with a guide and local transport: $83
- Amritsar 02 days Tour: $216
- Amritsar 1 Day Guided Tour-Golden Temple, Jalliawala Bagh, Wagah: $74
- Amritsar 1 Day Sightseeing with Wagah Border: $36
- Amritsar 1 Day Tour (Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border & Shopping): $39
- Amritsar 1 Night / 2 Days Tour: $67
- Amritsar City Tour: $41
- Amritsar City Tour ( EXCLUDING WAGAH BORDER) : $55
- Amritsar City Tour ( Including Wagah Border Ceremony): $60
- Amritsar City Tour with Wagah Border and Sadda Pind Village: $101
- Amritsar Full Day Private Tour: $60
- Amritsar Full Day Tour (Golden Temple with Wagah Border): $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHaridwar $6.81Amritsar $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Amritsar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Amritsar:
- Pub Crawl Amritsar: $39
- Pub Crawl Amritsar (3 hours pub hopping tour): $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Haridwar and Amritsar, we can see that Amritsar is more expensive. And not only is Haridwar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Haridwar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Haridwar 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 Amritsar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amritsar than you might in Haridwar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Haridwar Expensive? and Is Amritsar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Haridwar or Amritsar?
Amritsar has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Haridwar. When comparing the sizes of Haridwar and Amritsar, 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.