Which place is cheaper, Hyderabad or Karachi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Karachi or Hyderabad?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Karachi or Hyderabad? 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: Karachi or Hyderabad?
Karachi
Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.
Hyderabad
Hyderabad, located in Southern India, is the capital of the state of Telangana. It is a city rich with history and tradition as well as booming in the technology industry, hosting the India headquarters for both Microsoft and Google. In addition to many upscale restaurants and shops, Hyderabad is also home to important historic sites and beautiful landmarks.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan, The Best 2-Week Tours in India, and The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKarachi $26Hyderabad $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Karachi is $26, while the average daily cost in Hyderabad is $50. 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 Karachi and Hyderabad in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKarachi $11Hyderabad $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKarachi $22Hyderabad $42
Compare Hotels in Karachi and Hyderabad
Looking for a hotel in Karachi or Hyderabad? 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: Karachi Hotel Prices and Hyderabad Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Karachi $4.58Hyderabad $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hyderabad
Also for Hyderabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Hyderabad Airport Transfer: $16
- Mumbai/Goa/Kochi/Bangalore - Private One-Way Transfer: $24
- Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi Airport(HYD) to Downtown hotels- Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- US$ 40 Safe Transfer Airport To City Hotels In A Private Car Upto 3pax: $43
- Private Transfer from Rajiv Gandhi (HYD) Airport to Hyderabad: $62
- Private Transfer from Hyderabad to Rajiv Gandhi (HYD) Airport: $62
- Private Transfer Round Trip Downtown to Hyderabad Airport: $87
- 6-hours Golconda Fort & Qutub Shahi Tombs Tour with transfer: $97
- Full Day Ramoji Film City Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Karachi or Hyderabad?
Prices for flights to both Hyderabad and Karachi 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 dayKarachi $11Hyderabad $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.
- Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $94
- Half-Day Karachi Burns Road Private Victoria Ride with Dinner: $100
- Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hyderabad
For Hyderabad, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hyderabad Evening Tour with Boat Ride, Laser Show & Dinner: $97
- Private Half Day Tour: Dinner cruise, Old city shopping ride & Laser show: $175
- Cooking Demonstration of Ethnic Hyderabadi Cuisine at Private Residence (Dinner): $201
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Karachi $5.07Hyderabad $16
Tours and Activities in Karachi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:
- Experience local village life in Sindh: $200
- Full Day Private Tour in Karachi City: $161
- Full Day Private Tour to Mohatta Palace Zainab and Burns road: $195
- Karachi City Tour : $129
- Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
Tours and Activities in Hyderabad
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hyderabad.
- Charminar Skip the line Entry Ticket: $11
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Hyderabad (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Night Walk Hyderabad (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Hyderabad (2 Hours Guided Tour): $17
- Spiritual Trails of Hyderabad (2 Hours Guided Temples Tour): $17
- Heritage Walking Tour of Old City and Charminar: $45
- Private Half-Day Tour of Hyderabad Including Sound & Light Show: $48
- Full-Day Private Guided Tour of Hyderabad: $52
- Golconda Fort & Hyderabad City Tour: $53
- Hyderabads Grand Heritage City Tour: $53
- 4 hours Tour of Golkonda Fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs in Hyderabad: $60
- Skip The Line Charminar E-Tickets with guide: $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKarachi $3.35Hyderabad $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Karachi and Hyderabad, we can see that Hyderabad is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Karachi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karachi 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 Hyderabad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hyderabad than you might in Karachi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Karachi Expensive? and Is Hyderabad Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Karachi or Hyderabad?
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hyderabad. When comparing the sizes of Karachi and Hyderabad, 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.