Should you visit Mumbai or Pokhara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mumbai or Pokhara, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Mumbai or Pokhara?
Mumbai
Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
Which place is cheaper, Pokhara or Mumbai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mumbai is $76, while the average daily cost in Pokhara is $22. 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 Mumbai and Pokhara in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Mumbai or Pokhara? 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:
Mumbai Hotel Prices and
Pokhara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Transfer: Mumbai Airport BOM to Mumbai by Business Car:
$65
-
Airport Transfer: Mumbai to Mumbai Airport BOM by Van:
$111
-
Arrival Transfer: Mumbai Airport BOM to Mumbai by Luxury Van:
$101
-
Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Business Car:
$65
-
Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Luxury Van:
$101
-
Mumbai - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport:
$39
-
Mumbai After Dark: Private Night Tour with AC Transfers:
$25
-
Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Mumbai - Arrival Private Transfer:
$38
-
Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Mumbai - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$52
-
Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Mumbai - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$76
-
Mumbai Airport BOM Private Transfer to Mumbai City Central/Hotels:
$24
-
Mumbai Airport Private Arrival Transfers:
$20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
-
Pokhara to Kathmandu: One Way Private Transfer:
$295
-
Kusma Swing Jumping Experience with Transfer:
$150
-
Paragliding Experience with Hotel Transfers:
$139
-
From 4-Day Poon Hill Trek with Transfers:
$130
-
Paragliding and Rafting Adventure with Transfers:
$129
-
Private Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu:
$120
-
Pokhara to Kathmandu Transfer by Private Car:
$99
-
"Exclusive Private Transfer: Pokhara to Chitwan in a Luxury car":
$82
-
Pokhara to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car:
$80
-
One way transfer To or From Chitwan:
$73
-
Private Transfer: Kathmandu ↔ Pokhara by Car, Jeep & Hiace:
$73
-
White Water Rafting Half Day with Hotel Transfers:
$70
Is it cheaper to fly into Mumbai or Pokhara?
Prices for flights to both Pokhara and Mumbai 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Mumbai $38
Pokhara $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Mumbai Food Tour — 178 Years of Bombay on a Plate:
$14
-
Mumbai Street Food Tour with Evening Market Walk:
$17
-
Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai:
$20
-
Mumbai Food Tour:
$20
-
Best Mumbai Street Food Tour with Market & Train Ride Tour:
$27
-
Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home:
$29
-
Experience Mumbai Street Food Tour:
$36
-
Mumbai Street Food Tour:
$39
-
Mumbai Authentic Street Food Tour:
$41
-
Bombay Express Mumbai Food Tour with 15+ Tastings:
$45
-
Mumbai Best Street Food Tour with Local Guide:
$46
-
Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Mumbai in a Local Home:
$49
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
-
Dinner for Two
$3.95
-
Dessert (for 2)
$2.63
-
Pastries
$1.32
-
Dinner
$5.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
-
Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara:
$21
-
Nepali Nights: Dinner & Cultural Dance Delight in Pokhara:
$26
-
MoMo or Dal Bhat Cooking Class at Aama Kitchen in Pokhara:
$29
-
Nepalese Kitchen in Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class:
$29
-
3 Hour MoMo cooking class:
$31
-
Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop:
$42
-
3 Hour Authentic Nepali Thakali Dish Cooking Class:
$45
-
Thakali food Cooking Class in Pokhara:
$50
-
Nepali Cooking Class in Pokhara with a Local Family:
$60
-
3 Hours Momo Cooking class in Pokhara:
$70
-
1 Day Momo making cooking class:
$75
-
Organic Farm Tour and Cooking Class at Durku:
$115
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
-
Mumbai (Malabar District) Self-Guided Tour:
$3.88
-
Dharavi Slum tour in Mumbai by local resident:
$4.28
-
Private Mumbai City Tour with Dharavi Slum (Famous Movie Location:
$4.30
-
Audio Guided Walking Tour on HopOn India App – From Gateway to Fountain, Mumbai:
$5.32
-
Elephanta Caves Audio Guided Walking Tour, Mumbai on HopOn India App:
$5.34
-
Audio Guided Tour – Mumbai Cricket Walk by HopOn India:
$5.34
-
Mumbai's Historical Architecture: A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$5.40
-
From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour:
$5.64
-
Audio Guided Tour of Matunga & Dadar Parsi Colony, Mumbai:
$6.14
-
Dharavi Slum Tour in Untold Stories with Local Guide:
$6.42
-
From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra City Tour with Fatehpur Sikri:
$7.10
-
Mumbai Dharavi Slum Tour With Local English Guide:
$7.53
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
"Pokhara Day Bus Sightseeing 8 points":
$20
-
"Pokhara Pumdikot Tour: Eagle Eye Views of Stunning Pokhara":
$29
-
"Sunrise and Scenic Day Hike in A Perfect Adventure:
$84
-
1 Night 2 Days Pokhara to Ghandruk Jeep Adventure:
$150
-
1-Day Private Dhampus Trekking Tour:
$67
-
110 Meters Bungee Jumping Tour in Pokhara:
$105
-
2 Day Private Panchase Trek Tour from Pokhara:
$140
-
2 Days 1 Night Private Tour from Pokhara to Ghandruk Trek:
$200
-
2 Days Palpa-Tansen Hill station tour from Pokhara:
$260
-
2 Iconic Suspension Bridge Tour in Pokhara:
$29
-
2-Day Private Trekking Tour to Australian Camp & Dhampus:
$99
-
2-Day Scenic Mustang Tour: Pokhara to Jomsom, Kagbeni & Muktinath:
$239
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
-
Bombay Party (Bar Crawl):
$25
-
South Bombay Pub Crawl:
$34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mumbai and Pokhara, we can see that Mumbai is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara 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 Mumbai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mumbai than you might in Pokhara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mumbai Expensive? and Is Pokhara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mumbai or Pokhara?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Pokhara. When comparing the sizes of Mumbai and Pokhara, 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.
Related Articles for Mumbai
Related Articles for Pokhara