A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Leh vs. Osaka for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Leh or Osaka?

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 Osaka. 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 Osaka?

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.

Osaka

The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.

Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.

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 Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Osaka 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 Osaka is $88. 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 Osaka in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leh $17
    Osaka $45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leh $34
    Osaka $90
Compare Hotels in Leh and Osaka

Looking for a hotel in Leh or Osaka? 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 Osaka


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 Osaka Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leh $7.86
    Osaka $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:

  • Leh Airport Transfer: $33

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Osaka

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:


  • Subway
    $7.83

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka

Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Osaka Itami Airport to/from Osaka City: Shared Transfer: $23
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Osaka Itami Airport to Osaka City: $25
  • Private Transfer by Sedan from Itama Airport ITM to Osaka City : $58
  • Kuchu Teien Observatory Ticket with Private Transfer: $62
  • Private Transfer from Osaka Cruise Port to Osaka city hotels: $66
  • Osaka Int Airport (ITM) to Osaka city - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
  • Private Transfer from Osaka Airport (ITM) to Osaka Cruise Port: $66
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Osaka Itami Airport to Kyoto City: $66
  • Airport Transfer from Osaka city to Kansai airport: $68
  • Osaka to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) - Departure Private Transfer: $70
  • TeamLab Botanical Garden Ticket and Private Transfer: $71
  • Private Transfer from Osaka Port to Osaka Kansai Int Airport: $71

Is it cheaper to fly into Leh or Osaka?

Prices for flights to both Osaka 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
    Osaka $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Osaka

For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Osaka:Food Tour & Shopping(Grand Opening Limited Time Offer): $25
  • 2-Hour Kuromon Market Walking Street Food Tour: $26
  • Private Takoyaki Cooking Class by Natives in Osaka: $36
  • Japanese home cooking class in Osaka Umeda: $45
  • Osaka Okonomiyaki Cooking Experience!: $49
  • Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Dotonbori: $61
  • Kimono experience and Japanese home-cooking lesson Osaka: $63
  • Osaka Authentic Tempura & Miso Soup Japan Cooking Class: $64
  • RAMEN and 2 types GYOZA (dumplings) Cooking Class: $65
  • Three Types of RAMEN Cooking Class: $65
  • Kimono experience and Japanese home-cooking lesson Osaka Umeda : $65
  • Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Osaka Dotonbori: $66

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leh $14
    Osaka $20

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: $80
  • From Srinagar: Private Himalayan 11-Day Tour to Ladakh: $1,507
  • LADAKH TOUR: $659
  • Leh-Ladakh Sameday Tour/ Capture the Majesty in Just One Day: $53

Typical Entertainment Prices in Osaka

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Osaka Aquarium (for 2)
    $30

Tours and Activities in Osaka

For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Osaka Castle: Museum and Tower Entry Ticket: $3.79
  • Table Tennis Experience with Local Players: $4.42
  • Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum Entrance Ticket: $4.42
  • Ryurei Teicha: Chanoyu (Tea Ceremony) Experience in Osaka: $5.05
  • Osaka Sakishima Observatory Advance Ticket: $5.68
  • Dotonbori District Sightseeing Cruise & Beer Discount: $7.58
  • Tsutenkaku Entry Ticket: $7.67
  • Umeda Sky Building E-Ticket: $9.47
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory E-Ticket: $11
  • Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory Entry Ticket: $12
  • Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum:Ukiyo-e Woodblock Printing Experience: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leh $5.57
    Osaka $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:

  • Osaka Namba Hidden Places Bar Crawl: $16
  • Osaka Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $23
  • Namba Pub Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $30
  • Osaka Evening: Ultimate Pub Bar Crawl with an Expert Local Guide: $32
  • Local Bar Crawl in Dotombori and Uranamba Area: $38
  • Osaka Local Bar Crawl in Dotombori & Uranamba Area: $39


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leh and Osaka, we can see that Osaka 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 Osaka would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Osaka 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 Osaka Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Leh or Osaka?

Osaka has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Leh and Osaka, 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.