Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Leh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leh or Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu. 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 Kathmandu?
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.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeh $39Kathmandu $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Leh is $39, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $57. 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 Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeh $17Kathmandu $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeh $34Kathmandu $80
Compare Hotels in Leh and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Leh or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leh $7.86Kathmandu $6.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:
- Leh Airport Transfer: $33
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu Airport transfer service: $8.35
- Kathmandu - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel : $12
- Kathmandu - Private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $15
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer: $16
- Kathmandu airport transfer service: $20
- Kathmandu Airport Arrival transfer: $20
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle : $20
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Deluxe Toyota Coaster Mini Bus Transfer From Kathmandu to Pokhara or V. V. : $22
- Kathmandu to Pokhara: Luxury Sofa Bus Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel : $25
- Kathmandu to Pokhara Transfer: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Leh or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu 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 $14Kathmandu $8.31
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.35
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Dinner for Two$3.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Best Half-Day Nepali Cooking Class & Hotel Pickup: $7.50
- Momo Making & Cooking class in Thamel with Pickup: $8.59
- Half Day cooking class in Kathmandu by Local Chefs & Pickup: $9.37
- Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu with Pickup: $10
- Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu : $12
- Cooking Class in Thamel Kathmandu by Local Chef with pickup: $13
- Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
- Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel, Kathmandu with Pickup: $19
- Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
- Food Tour In Kathmandu With Walking Local Market: $23
- Nepali cooking class and Homestay experience : $25
- Kathmandu Culinary Adventure: A Cooking Class Experience: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leh $14Kathmandu $8.04
Tours and Activities in Leh
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:
- Leh-Ladakh Sameday Tour/ Capture the Majesty in Just One Day: $53
- "Leh to Pangong Lake Sameday tour: A Day of Tranquil Wonders: $80
- LADAKH TOUR: $659
- From Srinagar: Private Himalayan 11-Day Tour to Ladakh: $1,507
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.50
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.76
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.50
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Private Tour Chandragiri Hills and Kathmandu Durbar Square : $5.00
- Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- City Highlights Bus Tour: $9.56
- Sarngkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour in Pokhara: $10
- Skywalk Adventure in Nepal: $11
- Nepali Nightlife Experience in Kathmandu's Vibrant Thamel: $12
- Discovering Full-Day City Highlights Bus Tour: $12
- Tourist Bus Intercity Hassle free Shuttle all over Nepal: $12
- Kathmandu to Pokhara Tourist Bus- MNS: $12
- Bandipur Tourist Bus Ticket: $12
- 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private Day Tour: $13
- Chitwan To Kathmandu Tourist Bus: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeh $5.57Kathmandu $5.77
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leh and Kathmandu, we can see that Kathmandu is more expensive. And not only is Leh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leh 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 Kathmandu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kathmandu than you might in Leh.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leh Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leh or Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Leh and Kathmandu, 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.