Which place is cheaper, Delhi or Leh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Leh or Delhi?
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 Leh and Delhi. 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: Leh or Delhi?
Leh
Leh is a small town located in the Indus river valley at a crossroads of the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and Kashmir. Today, the town is best known for its Buddhist sites and nearby trekking areas. It is situated in northern India, amidst the mountainous Himalayan range.
Delhi
Delhi is the largest city in northern India and is officially the country's capital. The city has a population of 11 million with the metropolitan population reaching over 16 million. The city is similar in landscape to the rest of its surrounding area. It is very flat with the river Yamuna flowing on the eastern side of the city. The Aravalii Hills are in the western portion of the city. The city's history dates back to the 6th century BC and it has served as a capital for various kingdoms and empires.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New Delhi, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai, The Best 2-Week Tours from New Delhi, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Mumbai.
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Leh Prices
India PricesDelhi Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeh $42Delhi $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Leh is $42, while the average daily cost in Delhi is $48. 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 Leh and Delhi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeh $15Delhi $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeh $30Delhi $42
Compare Hotels in Leh and Delhi
Looking for a hotel in Leh or Delhi? 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: Leh Hotel Prices and Delhi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leh $6.82Delhi $4.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:
- Ladakh: 5-Day Family Tour with Accommodation & Transfers: $338
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.10
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Taxi to Airport$1.66
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Subway$0.33
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Uber Cab$0.83
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Delhi Metro Smart Card$1.56
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Auto-rickshaw$1.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
- Private Red Fort Delhi Tour with Tickets Guide and Transfers: $5.01
- Private Transfer From Delhi Hotel to Airport: $11
- New Delhi Airport: Private Transfer DEL to New Delhi City Center: $11
- New Delhi Airport to Hotel Transfer Private Shuttle Sedan & SUV: $11
- Delhi Airport To Agra Hotel Transfer by Private AC Car: $11
- Delhi Airport Transfer – Pickup and Drop-Off (Choose One or Both): $12
- From Taj Mahal Sunrise Private Day Trip with Transfers: $13
- Private Transfer Delhi Hotel to Airport: $14
- Red Fort: Delhi with Tickets Guide and Transfer: $14
- Private New Delhi Airport to Hotel Transfer: $15
- Delhi Airport: Private Transfer To/ From New Delhi/ Agra/Jaipur: $15
- New Delhi Airport to Hotel Transfer Private Shuttle Sedan & SUV: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Leh or Delhi?
Prices for flights to both Delhi and Leh 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 dayLeh $21Delhi $18
Typical Food Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Delhi:
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McDonalds$3.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.
- Private Old Delhi Street Food Tour: 11 Tastings & Rickshaw Ride: $8.47
- Old Delhi Food Tour: 8 Tastings & Tuk-Tuk Ride with Local Expert: $14
- Delhi Guided Half Day Food Tour in Famous Markets: $19
- Old Delhi Food Tour with Spice Market, Temples and Rickshaw Ride: $21
- Old Delhi Street Food Tour Rickshaw Ride and Hidden Gems Walk: $21
- Old Delhi Food Tour with Pickup and Drop Off: $21
- Learn Indian Cooking From A Chef - Private Cooking Class: $22
- Old Delhi Food Tour Extravaganza!: $26
- Food Tour in Delhi: $26
- Online: Indian Food Cooking Class: $28
- Old Delhi Cultural, Temples, Heritage Walking Street Food Tour: $33
- Traditional Indian Cooking Class with Family Experience: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leh $12Delhi $17
Tours and Activities in Leh
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:
- All Inclusive Leh Full & Half Day Tour with Hotel Pickup: $48
- Electric Cycle Tour with Heritage Walk & Meal: $48
- Alchi, Likir, Moonland-Lamayuru Monasteries Tour ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: $66
- Leh in a Day: Guided Tour of Iconic Landmarks and more: $79
- "Leh to Pangong Lake Sameday tour: A Day of Tranquil Wonders: $93
- Overnight Pangong Tour From Leh With Thiksey & Shey Palace: $106
- One Night Two Days Pangong Lake Tour with Accommodation: $190
- Ladakh: 4N - 5Day Tour to Leh - Pangong Lake and Monasteries: $217
- Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake 3-Day Tour: $254
- 6-Day Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and Sham Valley Tour: $508
- LADAKH TOUR: $582
- Ladakh Highlights Tour with Homestay: $803
Typical Entertainment Prices in Delhi
Here are a few typical costs in Delhi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Red Fort$9.03
Tours and Activities in Delhi
Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Delhi Old and New Full Or Half Day Tour: $3.71
- Delhi Temple and Spiritual Sites Private Day Tour - 6 hours: $3.71
- Full Day Old and New Delhi City tour: $5.00
- Private New Delhi Local Sightseeing - Tour: $5.00
- Jaipur Pink City Private Day Tour from Delhi by Car-All Inclusive: $5.00
- New Delhi and Old Delhi Private Tour 4-8 Hours - Customizable: $5.00
- Old and New Delhi Tour – Full City Experience (Private Tour): $5.17
- Golden Triangle Tour 5 Days Delhi, Agra, Jaipur with Tiger Safari: $5.93
- Sunder Nursery: A GPS Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Full Day Tour Jaipur City From Delhi: $7.00
- Private Old & New Full or Half Day Tour with Pick-up-Drop: $7.94
- Discover Old 3-Hour group tour: $7.94
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeh $4.83Delhi $7.52
Sample the Local Flavors in Delhi
Also in Delhi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $29
- Pub Crawl Delhi: $34
When comparing the travel costs between Leh and Delhi, we can see that Delhi 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 Leh Expensive? and Is Delhi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leh or Delhi?
Delhi has a larger population, and is about 290 times larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Leh and Delhi, 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.