Which place is cheaper, Haridwar or Jaisalmer?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaisalmer or Haridwar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Jaisalmer or Haridwar? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Jaisalmer or Haridwar?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaisalmer $37Haridwar $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $37, while the average daily cost in Haridwar is $31. 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 Jaisalmer and Haridwar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaisalmer $13Haridwar $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaisalmer $26Haridwar $30
Compare Hotels in Jaisalmer and Haridwar
Looking for a hotel in Jaisalmer or Haridwar? 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: Jaisalmer Hotel Prices and Haridwar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaisalmer $12Haridwar $5.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jaipur to Jaisalmer Transfer: $170
- Private transfer from Jaisalmer to Bikaner: $120
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jaipur: $117
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jaipur: $117
- Transfer From Jaisalmer To Udaipur Via Ranakpur Jain Temple: $90
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Pushkar: $85
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Bikaner: $65
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Bikaner : $62
- From Bikaner : Private Transfer To Jaisalmer: $60
- From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Bikaner: $55
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $45
- One Way Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Transfer: $44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haridwar
Also for Haridwar, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dehradun to Rishikesh ArirportTransfers+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 Rishikesh to Delhi: $39
- Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Dehradun Airport: $20
- Affordable Dehradun airport transfer to Rishikesh: $20
- Affordable Dehradun Airport Transfer.: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Haridwar?
Prices for flights to both Haridwar 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayJaisalmer $13Haridwar $10
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Jaisalmer Food Tour: Taste the Flavors of the Golden City!: $14
- Jaisalmer Heritage & Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $23
- Half Day SunSet Tour with Dinner: $26
- Desert camel safari with dinner in osian hotel pick and drop: $30
- Half Day Camel Safari Sunset with Dinner Tour (Non Touristic): $30
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $35
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Experience Camel Safari With Folk Dance & Dinner: $37
- Half Day Desert Safari with Camel ride & dinner: $42
- 4×4 Jeep Safari And Camel Safari With Dinner On Sand dunes: $48
- DiNnER iN HeVeN /aT Golden Desert of Jaisalmer: $55
- Away from the Crowd Dinner on dunes/ In Non Touristic Desert: $55
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: $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaisalmer $12Haridwar $9.18
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$3.59
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- 1 Night Desert Experience Sleeping Under Star Near Jodhpur: $56
- 1 night 2 day thar desert experience & village lifestyle: $38
- 2 Nights 3 Days Jaisalmer Tour & Non-Touristic Camel Safari: $96
- 3 Days Jaisalmer Private Tour: $180
- 3 Days Jaisalmer Tour From Jodhpur: $270
- 3 days Jaisalmer Private Tour with Desert Safari, Sightseeing and Accommodation: $202
- 3-Day Private Tour of Jaisalmer with Desert Camp Experience: $173
- 4 - Days Jaisalmer Sightseeing Tour: $149
- 4 - Days Jaisalmer Sightseeing Tour: $167
- 5 Days Udaipur Jodhpur & Jaisalmer Tour: $358
- 6 Days Jaisalmer Jodhpur & Udaipur Tour: $388
- Adventure Night With Cultural Show: $53
Tours and Activities in Haridwar
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Haridwar.
- Adventure camping at Mussoorie - 1n2d: $39
- Beautiful Swiss Camping Experience in Rishikesh with Rafting: $26
- Caving Tour in Rishikesh - 6 Hrs.: $50
- Chardham 9N/10D Tour Package: $537
- Day tour Haridwar Rishikesh Ganges: $72
- Devprayag Sightseeing Tour From Rishikesh: $60
- 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: $13
- From Delhi: 2-Day Tour of Rishikesh and Haridwar: $336
- Ganges River Tour (Delhi - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Delhi): $260
- Guided Haunted & Mysterious Walking Tour of Mussoorie: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaisalmer $9.24Haridwar $6.82
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaisalmer and Haridwar, we can see that Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer Expensive? and Is Haridwar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jaisalmer or Haridwar?
Haridwar has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Jaisalmer. When comparing the sizes of Jaisalmer and Haridwar, 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.