Which place is cheaper, Kolkata (Calcutta) or Lucknow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for India Lucknow vs. Kolkata (Calcutta) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Lucknow or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
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 Kolkata (Calcutta) can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Lucknow or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
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.
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal, India. Featuring colonial architecture, galleries, temples, and festivals, the city has flourished from its roots as an East India Company trading post in the 18th Century to a thriving metropolis. Today Kolkata is a diverse center of culture and bustling activity.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLucknow $46Kolkata (Calcutta) $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Lucknow is $46, while the average daily cost in Kolkata (Calcutta) is $37. 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLucknow $19Kolkata (Calcutta) $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLucknow $38Kolkata (Calcutta) $34
Compare Hotels in Lucknow and Kolkata (Calcutta)
Looking for a hotel in Lucknow or Kolkata (Calcutta)? 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lucknow $13Kolkata (Calcutta) $5.14
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: $30
- Private Transfer from Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport to Lucknow: $41
- Private Transfer from Lucknow to Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport: $41
- Lucknow 3-Days Private Tour with Hotel and Transfers: $277
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kolkata (Calcutta):
- The Second City of Empire: A Kolkata Heritage Walking Tour with Private Transfer: $132
- Private Transfer with English Speaking Representative : $20
- Private Transfer from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (CCU) Airport to Kolkata: $58
- Private Transfer from Kolkata to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (CCU) Airport: $59
- Private Transfer Kolkata Airport CCU To Kolkata Hotels Drop: $22
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kolkata Airport: $32
- Path of Knowledge: A Heritage Walking Tour of Kolkata with Private Transfer: $136
- Kolkata Airport to Hotel Transfer by Private Car: $43
- Kolkata - Arrival transfer from Airport to Hotel: $28
- Airport Transfer in Kolkata: $35
- Airport Taxi: Round Trip Transfer Between Kolkata & Kolkata Airport CCU: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Lucknow or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Prices for flights to both Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 $17Kolkata (Calcutta) $14
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: $83
- Heritage Walk With Curated Dinner In Lucknow: $368
- Dinner With A Maharaja In Lucknow: $509
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kolkata (Calcutta).
- Join in Kolkata's Authentic Walking Food Tour: $13
- Cooking experience in Authentic Bengali House with Lunch/Dinner: $28
- Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $35
- Alleyway Food Tour: $37
- Dinner Cruise on Ganges Kolkata 3Hrs: $42
- Kolkata Culinary tour (Food tour): $49
- Cooking class and home cooked Bengali meal in New Town, Kolkata: $49
- Traditional Bengali Cooking Class in Kolkata in a Local Home: $64
- Half Day Sunset Cruise with Dinner in Kolkata : $341
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lucknow $15Kolkata (Calcutta) $15
Tours and Activities in Lucknow
For Lucknow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $9.21
- Colonial Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $11
- Heritage Lucknow Photography Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Night Walk Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $15
- Lucknow Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $16
- Day Tour Of Lucknow: $22
- Lucknow Shopping and Food Tasting Experience (Guided Halfday City Tour by Car): $53
- Lucknow Treasures: A Full-Day Private City Tour: $61
- Custom Private Lucknow Sightseeing Trip with Guided Trip: $62
- 8 Hour: Lucknow Full day City Sightseeing Trip: $62
- Best of Lucknow (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $67
- Shaam-e-Awadh Tour of Lucknow: $72
Tours and Activities in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kolkata (Calcutta) are as follows:
- 2-Day Tour to The Taj Mahal, Agra from Kolkata with Both Side Commercial Flight: $572
- Romantic tour in Howrah: $433
- Romantic tour in Kolkata: $433
- The best of Howrah walking tour: $433
- The best of Kolkata walking tour: $433
- 14 Days Private North East India Tour from Kolkata: $2,572
- 2 day trip to Agra from Kolkata with air tickets: $864
- 2 day trip to Agra from Kolkata without air tickets: $504
- 2-Day Tour to The Taj Mahal, Agra from Kolkata with Both side Commercial Flights: $568
- 2-Night Private Taj Mahal and Agra Tour from River Cruise Pier: $667
- 3 Days Guided Private Tour of Kolkata : $200
- 3 Days Private Tour of Kolkata & Sunderbans : $370
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLucknow $7.08Kolkata (Calcutta) $8.32
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: $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also in Kolkata (Calcutta), these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Kolkata: $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lucknow and Kolkata (Calcutta), we can see that Lucknow is more expensive. And not only is Kolkata (Calcutta) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kolkata (Calcutta) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Kolkata (Calcutta).
Which is Bigger, Lucknow or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Kolkata (Calcutta) is bigger, and its population is about 87% larger than the population of Lucknow. When comparing the population of Lucknow vs. Kolkata (Calcutta), 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 and the activities that interest you.
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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.
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