A Travel Price Comparison for India Karnataka vs. Mumbai for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Karnataka or Mumbai?

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 Karnataka and Mumbai. 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: Karnataka or Mumbai?

Karnataka

Karnataka is a state of southern India consisting of some of the country's most beautiful beaches along its coast and an inland area of mountains, valleys, and farmland. Visitors come to the region to experience the flavors and culture of south India, see its many ancient temples, and admire its natural features and wildlife.

Mumbai

Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in India, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in India, The Best 2-Week Tours in India, and The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Mumbai or Karnataka?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Karnataka is $33, while the average daily cost in Mumbai is $69. 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 Karnataka and Mumbai in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Karnataka $15
    Mumbai $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Karnataka $30
    Mumbai $68
Compare Hotels in Karnataka and Mumbai

Looking for a hotel in Karnataka or Mumbai? 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.

Hotels in Karnataka


Hotels in Mumbai


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: Mumbai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Karnataka $4.89
    Mumbai $7.77

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai

Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Mumbai HTL-APT (BOM): $27
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Mumbai APT-HTL (BOM): $20
  • Transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $55
  • Private Transfer: Hotel to Mumbai Airport: $47
  • Private Transfer from Mumbai to Pune via Lonavala City Tour: $58
  • Private Transfer from Mumbai to Chatrapati Shivaji (BOM) Airport: $39
  • Private Transfer from Mumbai hotels to Mumbai Cruise Port: $64
  • Private Transfer from Mumbai Port to Mumbai Int Airport (BOM): $48
  • Private Transfer from Mumbai Int Airport (BOM) to Mumbai Port: $48
  • Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Hotels: $64
  • Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Airport (BOM): $64
  • Private Transfer from Chatrapati Shivaji (BOM) Airport to Mumbai: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Karnataka or Mumbai?

Prices for flights to both Mumbai and Karnataka 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Karnataka $11
    Mumbai $26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai

For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hidden Gems and Street Food Tour: $15
  • Discover Mumbai's street & beach with food tour: $17
  • Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai: $20
  • Mumbai Food Tour: $20
  • Old Bombay Bazaar and Food Tour with local Guide: $23
  • Mumbai Food Tour: $25
  • Street Food Tour - Eat like a Local with sunset view: $26
  • Old Bombay Bazaar and Food Tour with local Guide: $27
  • Guided Food Tour Through the Vibrant Markets of Old Bombay: $28
  • Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home: $33
  • Street Food Tour: $36
  • Experience Mumbai Street Food Tour: $40

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Karnataka $9.72
    Mumbai $2.66

Tours and Activities in Karnataka

For Karnataka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Treasures of Nandi : Biking Adventure: $197

Tours and Activities in Mumbai

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.

  • Private Full-Day Mumbai Sightseeing Tour with Dharavi Slums: $82
  • "Best of Mumbai (Guided Full Day Sightseeing City Tour)": $127
  • "Highlights of Mumbai Guided Half Day Sightseeing City Tour: $74
  • "Religions of Mumbai (Guided Half Day Sightseeing City Tour): $80
  • 2 Hour Dharavi Slum Tour with Local Guide: $12
  • 2-Days Private Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour from Mumbai by Round Trip Flights: $231
  • 2-Hour Guided Tour of Dharavi: $25
  • 3 Days Complete Mumbai Tour Inclusive of Bollywood Studio Experience: $277
  • 5 Hours Private Tour in Mumbai City: $74
  • 7 Hour Mumbai City Sightseeing Tour By Navv Om Namaha Shivaya: $123
  • 7-Hour Mumbai Sightseeing + Dharavi Slum Tour + Local Train Ride: $71
  • Agra Taj Tour from Mumbai: $220

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Karnataka $8.70
    Mumbai $3.69

Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:

  • Bombay Party (Bar Crawl): $25
  • South Bombay Pub Crawl: $38
  • South Bombay Pub Crawl: $39
  • Mumbai Private Bar Crawl with City Night Tour: $124
  • Nashik: Private Full-Day Wine Tour with Tastings From Mumbai: $128
  • Full-Day Private Wine Tour at Sula Vineyards from Mumbai: $152
  • Wine Tasting Tour Sula Vineyards Nashik - (Day excursion from Mumbai): $163


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Karnataka and Mumbai, we can see that Mumbai is more expensive. And not only is Karnataka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Karnataka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karnataka 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 Mumbai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mumbai than you might in Karnataka.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Karnataka Expensive? and Is Mumbai Expensive?.


Which has a larger population, Karnataka or Mumbai?

Karnataka has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Mumbai. When comparing the sizes of Karnataka and Mumbai, 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.