Should you visit Jaisalmer or Dharamsala?
Should I visit Jaisalmer or Dharamsala? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.
Dharamsala
With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.
Which city is cheaper, Dharamsala or Jaisalmer?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $33, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala is $32. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Jaisalmer and Dharamsala in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $24 in Jaisalmer For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $21. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Dharamsala the cost is $42 on average.
Food
The average traveler spends about $12 per day in Jaisalmer for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The average traveler spends about $7.49 per day in Dharamsala for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Jaisalmer $12
Dharamsala $7.49
Typical Food prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Complete Desert Experience- Jeep Safari, Dinner, Cultural Programs and Bonfire:
$21
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Dinner In Thar Desert:
$30
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Half Day SunSet Tour with Dinner:
$30
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Sunset Safari With Dinner:
$31
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Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner:
$35
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Learn Cooking in Jaislamer - A Guided Activity:
$35
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Jaisalmer Thar Camel Safari With Folk Dance & Marwari Dinner:
$36
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Half-Day City Tour of Jaisalmer Sunset by Camel Ride with Dinner:
$64
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Half-Day City Tour of Sunset at Sand Dunes with Dinner:
$80
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Sunset Camel Safari in Jaisalmer Sand Dunes & Dinner with Cultural Program:
$86
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dharamsala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dharamsala.
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Private Full Day McleodGanj City Sightseeing & Cooking Class:
$74
Local Transportation
To get around in Jaisalmer, the average visitor spends $11 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The average price of local transportation around Dharamsala is $4.60 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel:
$11
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Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport:
$11
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Airport Transfer - Jaisalmer Airport to Hotels in Jaisalmer:
$11
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Airport Transfer - Jaisalmer Hotels to Jaisalmer Airport:
$11
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Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel:
$13
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Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport:
$13
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Affordable Jaisalmer Airport Transfer:
$15
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Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Sam Sand Dunes:
$19
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Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Khuri Sand Dunes:
$19
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Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur:
$35
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Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur:
$37
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One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur:
$37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
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Dharamsala- Transfers+Hotel+Sightseeing (3 Days):
$304
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Affordable Dharamshala Airport Transfer:
$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Dharamsala?
Prices for flights to both Dharamsala and Jaisalmer 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.
Entertainment
In Jaisalmer, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $11 per person, per day.
Dharamsala's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $4.99 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Typical Entertainment prices in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sam Sand Dunes for Two
$4.03
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
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Jaisalmer Shopping Tour:
$5.13
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Temple Tour Of Jaisalmer Rajasthan:
$7.00
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Explore Jaisalmer in a Tuk-Tuk - A Guided Tour:
$10
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Cultural & Heritage Trails of Jaisalmer (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour):
$11
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Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer - Walking Tour:
$12
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Jaisalmer Under the Stars - Night Walk Tour:
$12
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Jaisalmer Walking Tour:
$12
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Jaisalmer City Sightseeing Tour:
$13
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Jaisalmer Photography Tour - A Private Car Tour:
$13
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Vibrant Markets of Jaisalmer (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour):
$14
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Golden City Photography Tour (2 Hours Guided Experience to Capture Hue of City):
$14
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Experience Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour):
$14
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
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Dharamsala Half Day Sightseeing Tour:
$50
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Half-Day Private Kangra Valley Cycling Tour from Dharamshala:
$69
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Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala:
$72
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Jaisalmer, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $8.29.
The average person spends about $4.99 on alcoholic beverages in Dharamsala per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When comparing the travel costs between Jaisalmer and Dharamsala, we can see that Jaisalmer 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.
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