Which place is cheaper, Delhi or Lucknow?
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 Lucknow or Delhi?
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 Delhi can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Lucknow or Delhi?
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.
Delhi
Delhi is the largest city in northern India and is officially the country's capital. The city has a population of 11 million with the metropolitan population reaching over 16 million. The city is similar in landscape to the rest of its surrounding area. It is very flat with the river Yamuna flowing on the eastern side of the city. The Aravalii Hills are in the western portion of the city. The city's history dates back to the 6th century BC and it has served as a capital for various kingdoms and empires.
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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Lucknow Prices
India PricesDelhi Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLucknow $51Delhi $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Lucknow is $51, while the average daily cost in Delhi is $48. 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 Delhi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLucknow $16Delhi $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLucknow $32Delhi $42
Compare Hotels in Lucknow and Delhi
Looking for a hotel in Lucknow or Delhi? 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 Delhi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lucknow $11Delhi $4.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucknow
Also for Lucknow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lucknow Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $8.02
- Lucknow, Varanasi, Ayodhya or Prayagraj: One-Way Transfer: $36
- One-Way Transfer Agra-Lucknow by Private AC Car: $107
- Premium Lucknow Airport Transfer: Comfortable & Convenience: $21
- Private Transfer from Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport to Lucknow: $44
- Private Transfer from Lucknow to Kanpur: $24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.10
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Taxi to Airport$1.67
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Subway$0.33
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Uber Cab$0.84
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Delhi Metro Smart Card$1.57
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Auto-rickshaw$1.05
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
- Walk through Old Delhi's Colorful Chandni Chowk with Private Transfer: $104
- Visit to Rail Museum or Dolls Museum with India Gate (private hotel transfers): $54
- VIP Arrival Meet & Assist service at Delhi Airport (opt transfer): $80
- Transfer from New Delhi to Agra by Private car: $100
- Transfer from Delhi Airport to Agra Hotel: $80
- Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi by Car with Transfers: $189
- Stroll through Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk with Private Transfer: $104
- Safe Private Transfer From New Delhi Airport or Hotel to Agra: $19
- Round trip Airport to Hotel to Airport transfers: $34
- Round Trip Airport Transfer- From Delhi Airport to Hotel & Back to Delhi Airport: $80
- Private transfer: Delhi hotel to Railway station: $27
- Private transfer Delhi to Agra: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Lucknow or Delhi?
Prices for flights to both Delhi 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 $26Delhi $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucknow
For Lucknow, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Heritage Walk With Curated Dinner In Lucknow: $300
Typical Food Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Delhi:
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McDonalds$3.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.
- Old Delhi Food Tour: 8 Tastings & Tuk-Tuk Ride with Local Expert: $14
- Appetizing virtual cooking class from Delhi: $17
- Old Delhi Food Tour with Spice Market, Temples and Rickshaw Ride: $21
- Old Delhi Food Tour with Pickup and Drop Off: $21
- Learn Indian Cooking From A Chef - Private Cooking Class: $22
- Old Delhi Food Tour Extravaganza!: $26
- Online: Indian Food Cooking Class: $29
- Old Delhi Cultural, Temples, Heritage Walking Street Food Tour: $33
- Old Delhi Food Tour: Street Food, Rickshaw & Spice Market: $35
- Traditional Indian Cooking Class with Family Experience: $36
- Authentic Indian Cooking Class in a Local Delhi Home: $37
- Food Tour to Old Delhi with a Local: $38
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lucknow $13Delhi $17
Tours and Activities in Lucknow
For Lucknow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Lucknow Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $11
- Colonial Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $11
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Night Walk Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage Lucknow Photography Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Lucknow Colonial Heritage Walk: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
- Exploring Lucknow in Nightlights: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
- Cultural Walking Tour of Lucknow with Local Snacks: $16
- Heritage Walking Tour with Refreshments: $16
- Cultural Walking Tour with Local Snacks (Guided Tour): $16
- Kaiserbagh Heritage Walking Tour: $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Delhi
Here are a few typical costs in Delhi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Red Fort$9.10
Tours and Activities in Delhi
Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- “Old & New Delhi Discovery: Private Full-Day Guided Tour”: $59
- (Time saver) 2-day Golden Triangle Tour all inclusive: $60
- 02 Days Jaipur Tour By Car From Delhi: $140
- 02 Days Overnight Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi: $150
- 02-Days Taj Mahal Sunrise & Sunset Luxury Tour with Fatehpur Sikri from Delhi: $98
- 03-Days private luxury Golden Triangle Tour Delhi, Agra, Jaipur: $155
- 04-Day Private Luxury Golden Triangle Tour to Agra & Jaipur: $261
- 06 Hours Old and New Delhi Private City Tour: $14
- 1 Day Delhi City Tour & 1 Day Agra Taj Mahal Private Combo Tour: $84
- 1 Day Delhi and 1 Day Agra Tour From Delhi with Taj Mahal - All Inclusive: $210
- 1 Day Delhi and 1 Day Agra Tour From Delhi with Taj Mahal Sunrise - With Hotels: $166
- 1 Day Taj Mahal Tour With Experienced Guide: $63
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLucknow $6.16Delhi $7.59
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: $34
Sample the Local Flavors in Delhi
Also in Delhi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $29
- Pub Crawl Delhi: $34
When comparing the travel costs between Lucknow and Delhi, we can see that Lucknow is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lucknow Expensive? and Is Delhi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lucknow or Delhi?
Delhi has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Lucknow. When comparing the sizes of Lucknow and Delhi, 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.