Which place is cheaper, Mumbai 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 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 Leh 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: Leh or Mumbai?
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.
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 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 PricesMumbai Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeh $43Mumbai $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Leh is $43, while the average daily cost in Mumbai is $77. 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 Mumbai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeh $15Mumbai $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeh $30Mumbai $60
Compare Hotels in Leh and Mumbai
Looking for a hotel in Leh 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.
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 Mumbai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leh $6.97Mumbai $6.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:
- Ladakh Family Getaway: 6-Day Tour with Stay & Transfers: $428
- Ladakh: 5-Day Family Tour with Accommodation & Transfers: $361
- From Jaipur: 2-Day Ranthambore Tiger Safari with transfers: $278
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mumbai Airport Transfer: $12
- Mumbai Airport Transfer to Hotel with a Private Transport: $18
- Mumbai Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $20
- Mumbai Private Airport Transfer to Hotel Easy & Safe: $21
- Mumbai Airport BOM Private Transfer to Mumbai City Central/Hotels: $24
- Private Transfer Mumbai Airport by Innova Crysta: $24
- Mumbai After Dark: Private Night Tour with AC Transfers: $25
- Mumbai Airport Transfer in Private Vehicle: $26
- Mumbai Airport Transfer to and from Hotel: $31
- One way Private transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $37
- Mumbai to Mumbai Airport (BOM) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Mumbai - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Leh or Mumbai?
Prices for flights to both Mumbai 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 $21Mumbai $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mumbai Food Tour — 178 Years of Bombay on a Plate: $14
- Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai: $20
- Mumbai Food Tour: $20
- Small Group Authentic Mumbai Virtual Cooking Class with Dessert: $20
- Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home: $29
- Lights, Flavour, Action- A Story-Driven Food Tour: $31
- Mumbai's Curry Cooking Class: Veg, Non-Veg: $33
- Experience Mumbai Street Food Tour: $36
- Flavors of Mumbai Food Tour: $38
- Mumbai Street Food Tour: $39
- Mumbai Authentic Street Food Tour: $42
- Bombay Express Mumbai Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leh $13Mumbai $2.36
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: $87
- Airport Pickup with Shanti Stupa-Leh Palace & Monastery Tour: $28
- LADAKH TOUR: $620
- Leh in a Day: Guided Tour of Iconic Landmarks and more: $85
- 4-Day Tour to Leh Ladakh Pangong Lake and Monasteries: $199
- 6-Day Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and Sham Valley Tour: $462
- Electric Cycle Tour with Heritage Walk & Meal: $51
- Electric Cycle Tour with Leh Old Town Heritage Walk: $45
- Ladakh Highlights Tour with Homestay: $271
- Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake 3-Day Tour: $259
- One Night Two Days Pangong Lake Tour with Accommodation: $203
- Overnight Pangong Tour From Leh With Thiksey & Shey Palace: $113
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
- Mumbai (Malabar District) Self-Guided Tour: $3.82
- Mumbai Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $3.82
- Dharavi Slum tour in Mumbai by local resident: $4.34
- Private Mumbai City Tour with Dharavi Slum (Famous Movie Location: $4.35
- Audio Guided Walking Tour on HopOn India App – From Gateway to Fountain, Mumbai: $5.32
- Elephanta Caves Audio Guided Walking Tour, Mumbai on HopOn India App: $5.34
- Audio Guided Tour – Mumbai Cricket Walk by HopOn India: $5.34
- Mumbai's Historical Architecture: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $5.64
- Best Slum Tour Dharavi Small Group with a Local: $6.35
- Dharavi Slum Tour in Untold Stories with Local Guide: $6.52
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra City Tour with Fatehpur Sikri: $7.10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeh $4.94Mumbai $3.27
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
- Bombay Party (Bar Crawl): $25
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leh and Mumbai, we can see that Mumbai 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 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 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 Mumbai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leh or Mumbai?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 340 times larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Leh 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.
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.