Which place is cheaper, Darjiling or Haridwar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Haridwar or Darjiling?
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 Darjiling. 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 Darjiling?
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.
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
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 $31Darjiling $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Haridwar is $31, while the average daily cost in Darjiling is $35. 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 Darjiling in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHaridwar $15Darjiling $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHaridwar $30Darjiling $26
Compare Hotels in Haridwar and Darjiling
Looking for a hotel in Haridwar or Darjiling? 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 Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Haridwar $5.30Darjiling $7.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haridwar
Also for Haridwar, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dehradun- Transfers+Hotel+Sightseeing: $271
- Delhi To Haridwar Transfer: $75
- Private Transfer from Mussoorie to Delhi: $53
- Private Transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $47
- Private Transfer from Dehradun to Delhi: $46
- Private Transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $44
- Affordable transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $39
- Affordable transfer from Dehradun to Delhi: $39
- Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $39
- Private Transfer from Dehradun Airport to Rishikesh: $35
- Affordable Dehradun airport transfer to Rishikesh: $20
- Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Dehradun Airport: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Haridwar or Darjiling?
Prices for flights to both Darjiling 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 $10Darjiling $14
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Haridwar $9.16Darjiling $12
Tours and Activities in Haridwar
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Haridwar.
- Private 3-Day Tour from Dehradun to Mussoorie Hill Station: $277
- Adventure camping at Mussoorie - 1n2d: $39
- Adventure camping at Mussoorie - 2n3d: $71
- Adventure trip in Chakrata : $37
- Caving Tour in Rishikesh - 6 Hrs.: $45
- Day tour Haridwar Rishikesh Ganges: $72
- Discovering Dehradun: A Full Day Guided Tour: $61
- Divine Excursion: Gurudwara & Temple Tour from Dehradun: $61
- Experience Spiritual Culture in Rishikesh with a local - A Unique Walking Tour: $14
- From Delhi: 2-Day Tour of Rishikesh and Haridwar: $337
- From Delhi: Same Day Haridwar Guided Tour: $94
- Guided Food Crawl Tour of Mussoorie with a local: $25
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- 5-Day Private Tour of Gangtok and Darjeeling: $245
- A Full Day Tour Of Darjeeling: $232
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $65
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
- Day Trip to Buddha Park (Guided Private Sightseeing Tour from Gangtok): $147
- Day Trip to Darjeeling (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $147
- Day Trip to Gangtok (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $147
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $147
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $147
- Day_Trippers (Darjeeling Full Day Tour).: $117
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHaridwar $6.81Darjiling $8.77
When comparing the travel costs between Haridwar and Darjiling, we can see that Darjiling is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Haridwar Expensive? and Is Darjiling Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Haridwar or Darjiling?
Haridwar has a larger population, and is about 50% larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Haridwar and Darjiling, 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.