Which place is cheaper, Dharamsala or Lucknow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lucknow or Dharamsala?
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 Dharamsala can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Lucknow or Dharamsala?
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.
Dharamsala
With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.
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 $46Dharamsala $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Lucknow is $46, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLucknow $19Dharamsala $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLucknow $38Dharamsala $46
Compare Hotels in Lucknow and Dharamsala
Looking for a hotel in Lucknow or Dharamsala? 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 Dharamsala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lucknow $13Dharamsala $5.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucknow
Also for Lucknow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Lucknow to Kanpur: $28
- 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
- Agra to Lucknow Transfer: $100
- Lucknow 3-Days Private Tour with Hotel and Transfers: $277
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
- Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $35
- Chandigarh to Dharamshala Transfer: $85
- Airport to Dharamshala transfer: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Lucknow or Dharamsala?
Prices for flights to both Dharamsala 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 $17Dharamsala $8.34
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dharamsala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dharamsala.
- Flavors of Dharamshala: 2-Hour Guided Street Food Tour: $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lucknow $14Dharamsala $5.55
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
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
- Best of Dharamshala with a local - Full Day Guided Tour: $127
- Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $80
- Cultural tour - Dharamshala & Mcleodganj for full day: $30
- Dharamshala Dalhousie Tour from Amritsar: $299
- Dharamshala Mcleodganj Tour: $48
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $25
- Guided Andretta Artists' VIllage Tour: $98
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $42
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $42
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $98
- McLeodGanj Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLucknow $7.04Dharamsala $5.55
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 Dharamsala, we can see that Lucknow is more expensive. And not only is Dharamsala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dharamsala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lucknow Expensive? and Is Dharamsala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lucknow or Dharamsala?
Lucknow has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Dharamsala. When comparing the sizes of Lucknow and Dharamsala, 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.