Should I Visit Lucknow or Darjiling for Vacation? Which is Better? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

Should you visit Lucknow or Darjiling?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Lucknow and Darjiling can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Lucknow or Darjiling?

Lucknow

Lucknow, located in the central region of Awadh, is the capital city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. With a very rich cultural and historical past, Lucknow has been at the heart of North Indian culture for many centuries. It thrives in areas of art, cuisine, dance, culture, music, and more.

Darjiling

What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, and The Best Cultural Tours in India.

Which place is cheaper, Darjiling or Lucknow?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

Lucknow Prices
India Prices

Darjiling Prices
India Prices
Average Daily Cost Per person, per day

Lucknow $56

Darjiling $44

The average daily cost (per person) in Lucknow is $56, while the average daily cost in Darjiling is $44. 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 Lucknow and Darjiling in more detail.

Accommodation

Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person

Lucknow $18

Darjiling $13
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room

Lucknow $36

Darjiling $26

Compare Hotels in Lucknow and Darjiling

Looking for a hotel in Lucknow or Darjiling? 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: Lucknow Hotel Prices and Darjiling Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation

Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Lucknow $12

Darjiling $7.26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucknow

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

Lucknow 3-Days Private Tour with Hotel and Transfers: $277
One-Way Transfer Agra-Lucknow To and Fro by Private AC Car: $110
Private Transfer from Lucknow to Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport: $40
Private Transfer from Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport to Lucknow: $40
One-Way Transfer: Lucknow/Varanasi/Ayodhya/Prayagraj: $38
Premium Lucknow Airport Transfer: Comfortable & Convenience: $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling

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

Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $71

Is it cheaper to fly into Lucknow or Darjiling?

Prices for flights to both Darjiling and Lucknow 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

Lucknow $28

Darjiling $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucknow

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

Lucknow City tour followed by Food Tour: $80
Dinner With A Maharaja In Lucknow: $238
Heritage Walk With Curated Dinner In Lucknow: $300

Entertainment

Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Lucknow $14

Darjiling $12

Tours and Activities in Lucknow

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

6-Hour Lucknow Sightseeing Tour with Hotel Pickup: $80
8 Hour: Lucknow Full day City Sightseeing Trip: $59
A Walking Tour for Vegetarian Foodies in Lucknow: $180
Ayodhya Tour From Lucknow (Same Day): $253
Best of Lucknow (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $80
Colonial Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
Custom Private Lucknow Sightseeing Trip with Guided Trip: $59
Day Tour Of Lucknow: $22
From 1 Day Tour With Private Car & Driver: $46
From Ayodhya Private Tour with Lunch and Boat Ride: $128
Heritage & Cultural Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
Heritage & Cultural Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13

Tours and Activities in Darjiling

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.

A Full Day Tour Of Darjeeling: $208
Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $80
Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $30
Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $63
Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $178
Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $54
Day Trip to Buddha Park (Guided Private Sightseeing Tour from Gangtok): $143
Day Trip to Darjeeling (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $143
Day Trip to Gangtok (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $143
Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $143
Day_Trippers (Darjeeling Full Day Tour).: $95
Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13

Alcohol

Alcohol Drinks for one day

Lucknow $6.83

Darjiling $8.51

Sample the Local Flavors in Lucknow

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

Pub Crawl Lucknow: $38

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lucknow and Darjiling, we can see that Lucknow is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Lucknow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lucknow than you might in Darjiling.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lucknow Expensive? and Is Darjiling Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Lucknow or Darjiling?

Lucknow has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Lucknow and Darjiling, 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.

A Travel Price Comparison for India Lucknow vs. Darjiling for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lucknow or Darjiling?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Where Should I go: Lucknow or Darjiling?

Lucknow

Darjiling

Which place is cheaper, Darjiling or Lucknow?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Lucknow and Darjiling

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucknow

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling

Is it cheaper to fly into Lucknow or Darjiling?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucknow

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Lucknow

Tours and Activities in Darjiling

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Lucknow

Which is Bigger, Lucknow or Darjiling?

Related Articles for Lucknow

Related Articles for Darjiling

A Travel Price Comparison for India Lucknow vs. Darjiling for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lucknow or Darjiling?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Where Should I go: Lucknow or Darjiling?

Lucknow

Darjiling

Which place is cheaper, Darjiling or Lucknow?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Lucknow and Darjiling

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucknow

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling

Is it cheaper to fly into Lucknow or Darjiling?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucknow

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Lucknow

Tours and Activities in Darjiling

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Lucknow

Which is Bigger, Lucknow or Darjiling?

Related Articles for Lucknow

Related Articles for Darjiling

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