Which place is cheaper, Chennai or Munnar?
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 Munnar or Chennai?
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 Munnar and Chennai can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Munnar or Chennai?
Munnar
The name Munnar brings the picture of vast tea estates in front of our eyes. The hilly region is full of tea plantations which spread across acres and acres. The misty valleys in between add beauty to the greenery along with clouds. With the soul-stirring surrounding and panoramic charm of nature, Munnar is enriched with an opulent floral beauty. The green tea meadows make it even more vibrant. If you want to sleep in the lap of nature for some time amid the utmost serenity, no other place in Kerala can be better than Munnar. So, unleash yourself here and get the most of it.
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in India, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Munnar Prices
India PricesChennai Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMunnar $32Chennai $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Munnar is $32, while the average daily cost in Chennai is $30. 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 Munnar and Chennai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMunnar $11Chennai $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMunnar $22Chennai $26
Compare Hotels in Munnar and Chennai
Looking for a hotel in Munnar or Chennai? 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: Munnar Hotel Prices and Chennai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Munnar $4.42Chennai $2.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Munnar
Also for Munnar, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kochi to Munnar Transfer: $95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 12-Day Guided Tour to Kochi with Transfers: $1,094
- Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer: $234
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Pondicherry: Comfortable Travel: $130
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Thiruvannamalai: Ultimate Guide: $130
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $108
- Private Arrival Transfer Chennai Airport MAA to Mahabalipuram: $55
- Private Transfer from Mahabalipuram Hotel to Chennai Airport(MAA): $50
- Chennai Airport: Layover City Guided Tour with Transfers: $48
- From Chennai Mylapore walking trail with Guide & Transfers: $45
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $43
- Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $39
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Munnar or Chennai?
Prices for flights to both Chennai and Munnar 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 dayMunnar $15Chennai $9.61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Munnar
For Munnar, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kerala: Cooking Class in Munnar: $19
- Kerala Traditional Village Cooking Class in Munnar: $19
- Kerala Traditional village cooking class (Munnar): $21
- WE COOKS- Home Cooking Class in Munnar: $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ayurvedic or South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with an Author: $40
- Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with Vidhya: $48
- PRIVATE Chennai Cooking Class in a Local Home with Meena: $54
- Private Market Visit & Cooking Class in Sundari's Chennai Home: $54
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class near Chennai Airport: $62
- Traditional Indian Art, Craft and Cooking Tour: $71
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Demo in Chennai in Tara's Home: $76
- Private tour to learn Traditional Indian Art, craft & Cooking: $80
- Neighborhood Market Tour & South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai: $152
- Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Munnar $11Chennai $2.40
Tours and Activities in Munnar
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Munnar.
- All Inclusive Munnar Full-Day or Half-Day Private Tour: $52
- Anakulam Jeep Safari Tour with Waterfalls and Wild Elephants: $39
- Anakulam Wild Elephant Village life tour ( By Munnar Info): $70
- Chinnar wild valley experience day tour ( By Munnar Info): $79
- Cochin: Munnar Hill Station Tea Garden Overnight Tour: $124
- From Agra: Fatehpur Sikri & Agra Local Market Half-Day Tour: $28
- From Chennai 7 days Private Tamilnadu Chola Temple Tour: $270
- From Delhi: Khajuraho Kamasutra Temples & Panna Safari Tour: $140
- From Letchmi Hills Trek Nature Walk Half Day Tour: $165
- From Tea Museum, Plantation, and National Park Tour: $114
- Fullday Trekking in munnar (munnar valley Trekking & Tours): $21
- Half day trekking (munnar valley Trekking & Tours ): $11
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- 2 Day Royal Enfield Motorcycle tour from Chennai to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram: $267
- 2-Day Tour to Taj Mahal and Agra from Chennai with Both Side Commercial Flights: $254
- 2-Day Tour to Taj Mahal and Agra from Chennai with Both side Commercial Flights: $276
- 2-Days Private Udaipur City Tour with Boat Ride: $116
- 6-Day Classical Tamil Nadu Private Tour from Chennai: $250
- 7-Day Spiritual Tamil Nadu Private Tour from Chennai: $526
- Agra Taj Tour from Chennai: $292
- Agra: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line & Guided Private 3 Hours Tour: $4.51
- All Inclusive Chennai Full & Half-Day Tour with Hotel Pickup: $48
- Auroville and Pondicherry Tour from Chennai: $134
- Auto Rickshaw Tour of Mahabalipuram: $82
- Best Of Chennai- Classic Tour on Royal Enfield Motorcycle: $160
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMunnar $5.30Chennai $2.67
When comparing the travel costs between Munnar and Chennai, we can see that Munnar 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 Munnar Expensive? and Is Chennai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Munnar or Chennai?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Munnar. When comparing the sizes of Munnar and Chennai, 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.