Which place is cheaper, Delhi or Lucknow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLucknow $46Delhi $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Lucknow is $46, while the average daily cost in Delhi is $45. 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 $19Delhi $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLucknow $38Delhi $46
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 $13Delhi $5.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucknow
Also for Lucknow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Agra to Lucknow Transfer: $100
- Lucknow 3-Days Private Tour with Hotel and Transfers: $277
- Lucknow Airport Transfer: $28
- Private Transfer from Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport to Lucknow: $41
- Private Transfer from Lucknow to Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport: $41
- Private Transfer from Lucknow to Kanpur: $28
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$0.12
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Taxi to Airport$1.91
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Subway$0.38
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Uber Cab$0.96
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Delhi Metro Smart Card$1.79
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Auto-rickshaw$1.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
- Visit to Rail Museum or Dolls Museum with India Gate (private hotel transfers): $29
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Delhi APT-HTL (DEL): $27
- Transfer from New Delhi to Agra by Private car: $60
- Transfer from Delhi to Agra by private Car: $57
- Tour To Swaminarayan Akshardham Guide & Delhi Transfers: $37
- Taj Mahal Sunrise All Inclusive Tour with Transfers : $7.00
- Round Trip Airport Transfers - Delhi Airport to Hotel and back to Delhi Airport: $75
- Round Trip Airport Transfers - Delhi Airport to Hotel and back to Delhi Airport: $72
- Round Trip Airport Transfer- From Delhi Airport to Hotel & Back to Delhi Airport: $80
- Qutub Minar Skip-the-Line E-tickets & guide Delhi transfers: $15
- Private transfer: Delhi hotel to Railway station: $27
- Private transfer from Delhi to Jaipur by car: $81
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 $17Delhi $12
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
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$3.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.
- Old Delhi Street Food Tour- All Inclusive : $12
- Appetizing virtual cooking class from Delhi: $20
- Lunch or dinner with local family: $21
- Food Tour Old Delhi: $31
- Old Delhi Heritage Sightseeing | Walking Tour | Street Food Tour: $34
- Cooking Demo + Lunch/Dinner and interaction with an Indian family @ Chez Anjali: $35
- Old Delhi Food Tour: A Night Time Feast: $36
- Connaught Place Street shopping & food tour in Delhi: $39
- Discover Old 4-Hour Evening Walking Tour includes Guide & Dinner: $40
- Old Delhi Street Food Tour: $44
- Culinary Delights Of Delhi Half Day Food Tour: $48
- Veg and Non veg : Private Cooking Class in Delhi: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lucknow $14Delhi $13
Tours and Activities in Lucknow
For Lucknow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Lucknow Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.59
- Lucknow Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.75
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Colonial Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Heritage Lucknow Photography Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Night Walk Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Day Tour Of Lucknow: $22
- Lucknow Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $25
- Private Ayodhya & Ram Mandir Temple Tour: $47
- Custom Private Lucknow Sightseeing Trip with Guided Trip: $61
- 8 Hour: Lucknow Full day City Sightseeing Trip: $61
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$10
Tours and Activities in Delhi
Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Days Golden Triangle Tour from Delhi: $205
- 3 Days Private Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Triangle Tour : $147
- 6 Hours: Delhi Temples and Spiritual Sites Tour: $45
- Delhi : Private Day Tour Of Tajmahal And Shopping At Agra: $100
- Delhi Agra and Jaipur 5 Days Golden Triangle Tour From New Delhi: $220
- Delhi All Inclusive Half day City Tour With Guide: $30
- Delhi Evening City Tour with Guide: $53
- Delhi a historic and Heritage 7 hours experience trip : $29
- Same Day Sunrise Taj Mahal Experience By Car : $75
- Explore Taj Mahal and Agra Fort - Private day tour from Delhi - All Inclusive: $97
- Full Day Agra Sightseeing Tour from Delhi by Car: $125
- Full Day Old And New Delhi City Tour- All Inclusive : $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLucknow $7.04Delhi $8.67
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 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.