Which place is cheaper, Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer?
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 Jaisalmer. 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 Jaisalmer?
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.
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.
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 PricesJaisalmer Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeh $43Jaisalmer $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Leh is $43, while the average daily cost in Jaisalmer is $41. 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 Jaisalmer in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeh $15Jaisalmer $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeh $30Jaisalmer $24
Compare Hotels in Leh and Jaisalmer
Looking for a hotel in Leh or Jaisalmer? 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 Jaisalmer Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leh $6.88Jaisalmer $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:
- Ladakh: 5-Day Family Tour with Accommodation & Transfers: $338
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jaisalmer Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $8.02
- One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $11
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $12
- Affordable Jaisalmer Airport Transfer: $15
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Khuri Sand Dunes: $19
- Jaiselmer to Bikaner drop Private Transfers Car service: $27
- Private Jaiselmer Hotels to Jodhpur Drop – (To/From Transfers): $32
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
- One Way Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Transfer: $39
- One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $45
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Leh or Jaisalmer?
Prices for flights to both Jaisalmer 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 $21Jaisalmer $20
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- off beat Desert safari with sunset and dinner: $10
- Jaisalmer Food Tour: Taste the Flavors of the Golden City!: $13
- Authentic Desert Farm Visit and Cooking Class: $24
- Jodhpur Camel & Jeep Safari with Sunset, Folk Dance, Dinner: $25
- Dinner on the Dunes & Camel Safari: $25
- Jaisalmer Heritage & Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $25
- Camel Trails Sunset Safari with Dinner: $32
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $35
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Cooking Class with Local Family & Rooftop Meal: $37
- Jeep Camel Ride, Musical Evening & Traditional Buffet Dinner: $37
- Experience Camel Safari With Folk Dance & Dinner: $37
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leh $13Jaisalmer $11
Tours and Activities in Leh
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:
- "Leh to Pangong Lake Sameday tour: A Day of Tranquil Wonders: $93
- All Inclusive Leh Full & Half Day Tour with Hotel Pickup: $48
- LADAKH TOUR: $582
- Ladakh: 14-Day Guided Motorcycle Tour with Meals & Fuel: $3,125
- Ladakh: 4N - 5Day Tour to Leh - Pangong Lake and Monasteries: $217
- Leh in a Day: Guided Tour of Iconic Landmarks and more: $79
- 6-Day Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and Sham Valley Tour: $508
- Alchi, Likir, Moonland-Lamayuru Monasteries Tour ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: $66
- Electric Cycle Tour with Heritage Walk & Meal: $48
- Ladakh Highlights Tour with Homestay: $803
- Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake 3-Day Tour: $254
- One Night Two Days Pangong Lake Tour with Accommodation: $190
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$3.14
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- City Sightseeing with Experienced Guide: $2.96
- Guided City Tour with Desert Safari: $4.23
- Agra: Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour w/Fatehpur Sikri: $4.50
- Billions of Stars Experience with Thar Desert & Camel Safari: $5.29
- Temple Tour Of Jaisalmer Rajasthan: $5.36
- Sam Sand Dunes Sunset Tour with Camel Ride: $8.00
- 2 Days Sharing Group Thar Desert Safari Adventure Tour: $8.60
- Jaisalmer Fort Guided Tour with Entry Ticket: $9.52
- Nomadic Non Touristic Overnight Thar Desert & Camel Safari: $9.52
- Private Jaisalmer Fort & old city tour: $10
- Colorful Markets of Jaisalmer (3 Hour Guided Tour): $11
- Explore Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeh $4.87Jaisalmer $8.07
When comparing the travel costs between Leh and Jaisalmer, we can see that Leh 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 Jaisalmer Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leh or Jaisalmer?
Jaisalmer has a larger population, and is about 80% larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Leh and Jaisalmer, 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.