A Travel Price Comparison for India Leh vs. Delhi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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.


Which place is cheaper, Delhi or Leh?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Leh is $39, while the average daily cost in Delhi is $45. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leh $17
    Delhi $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leh $34
    Delhi $46
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.

Hotels in Leh


Hotels in Delhi


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leh $7.86
    Delhi $5.28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:

  • Leh Airport Transfer: $33

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Delhi

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $0.12
  • Taxi to Airport
    $1.91
  • Subway
    $0.38
  • Uber Cab
    $0.96
  • Delhi Metro Smart Card
    $1.79
  • Auto-rickshaw
    $1.20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:

  • Taj Mahal Sunrise All Inclusive Tour with Transfers : $7.00
  • Private Half-Day Guided Shopping Tour with Transfer in Delhi: $8.99
  • New Delhi Airport to Hotel Transfer Private Shuttle Sedan & SUV: $11
  • Private Delhi Agra and Jaipur One Way Transfer : $12
  • Private Taj Mahal Guided Day Trip from Delhi with Transfers: $14
  • Delhi hotel to Delhi Airport transfer: $15
  • Delhi - Private arrival transfer from Airport to Hotel: $15
  • Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour with Transfers: $15
  • Airport transfer in Delhi (Per Way by Sedan, SUV and Tempo) : $16
  • Humayun's Tomb Skip-the-Line E-tickets & guide Delhi transfers: $18
  • Delhi - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $20
  • Private Transfer from Hotel to Delhi Airport : $20

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Leh $14
    Delhi $12

Typical Food Prices in Delhi

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Delhi:


  • McDonalds
    $3.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.

  • Old Delhi Food Tour Safari - The Capital of Flavors: $7.77
  • Appetizing virtual cooking class from Delhi: $20
  • Lunch or dinner with local family: $21
  • Cooking Demo + Lunch/Dinner and interaction with an Indian family @ Chez Anjali: $35
  • Indian Cooking and Dining experience. : $37
  • Connaught Place Street shopping & food tour in Delhi: $39
  • Delhi Kabul Cooking Class: $40
  • Evening Food Tour: $40
  • Discover Old 4-Hour Evening Walking Tour includes Guide & Dinner: $40
  • Old Delhi Street Food Tour: $44
  • Transit Tour-Guided Best Old Delhi's Attractions & Food Tour: $45
  • Chandni Chowk Old Delhi Food Tour with Spice Market: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leh $14
    Delhi $13

Tours and Activities in Leh

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:

  • LADAKH TOUR: $658
  • From Srinagar: Private Himalayan 11-Day Tour to Ladakh: $1,507

Typical Entertainment Prices in Delhi

Here are a few typical costs in Delhi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Red Fort
    $10

Tours and Activities in Delhi

Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Same day Taj mahal and agra fort tour by car: $4.00
  • Same Day Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Tour by Car : $4.31
  • Driving tours through beautiful India: $4.60
  • Taj Mahal Private Day Tour from Delhi by Superfast Train: $5.00
  • Private Old and New Delhi - Best of Delhi 8 Hours Tour: $5.00
  • Private Guided Tour to Taj Mahal and Agra Fort with All inclusive: $5.00
  • Private Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi by Car: $5.00
  • All Inclusive Taj Mahal Day Tour from Delhi by Car: $5.00
  • Taj Mahal same day tour from Delhi by Car-All Inclusive: $5.00
  • Private Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi By Car: $5.00
  • Skip The Line Taj Mahal Tour by Gatimaan Train From Delhi: $5.00
  • Private Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi by Car: $5.00

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leh $5.57
    Delhi $8.67

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 Delhi: $39


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.