Which place is cheaper, Darjiling or Lucknow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best Budget Tours to India, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New Delhi.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLucknow $46Darjiling $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Lucknow is $46, while the average daily cost in Darjiling is $35. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLucknow $19Darjiling $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLucknow $38Darjiling $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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lucknow $13Darjiling $7.48
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
- Agra to Lucknow Transfer: $100
- Private Transfer from Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport to Lucknow: $41
- Private Transfer from Lucknow to Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport: $41
- Lucknow Airport Transfer: $28
- Private Transfer from Lucknow to Kanpur: $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
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
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Food Meals for one dayLucknow $17Darjiling $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucknow
For Lucknow, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner With A Maharaja In Lucknow: $272
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lucknow $14Darjiling $12
Tours and Activities in Lucknow
For Lucknow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Days Shravasti Tour From Lucknow: $108
- 6-Hour Lucknow Sightseeing Tour with Hotel Pickup: $80
- 8 Hour: Lucknow Full day City Sightseeing Trip: $61
- Ayodhya Tour From Lucknow (Same Day): $284
- Best of Lucknow (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $83
- Colonial Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Custom Private Lucknow Sightseeing Trip with Guided Trip: $61
- Day Tour Of Lucknow: $22
- From Delhi:Ayodhya express tour from Delhi with private car: $347
- From 5 Days Lucknow Ayodhya Prayagraj Varanasi Tour: $342
- From Ayodhya Private Tour with Lunch and Boat Ride: $132
- From Varanasi: One Day Ayodhya Tour from Varanasi: $144
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- 5-Day Private Tour of Gangtok and Darjeeling: $245
- A Full Day Tour Of Darjeeling: $232
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $65
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
- Day Trip to Buddha Park (Guided Private Sightseeing Tour from Gangtok): $147
- Day Trip to Darjeeling (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $147
- Day Trip to Gangtok (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $147
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $147
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $147
- Day_Trippers (Darjeeling Full Day Tour).: $117
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLucknow $7.04Darjiling $8.77
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: $39
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.
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.