Which place is cheaper, Chennai or Mysore?
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 Mysore or Chennai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mysore and Chennai. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Mysore or Chennai?
Mysore
Also known as Mysuru, Mysore is the state of Karnataka's second biggest city behind Bangalore (also called Bengaluru) in southern India. Its landmark attraction is the Mysore Palace, though it also features memorable temples, markets, and a renowned annual festival in September-October.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in India, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in India, The Best 2-Week Tours in India, and The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India.
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Mysore Prices
India PricesChennai Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMysore $37Chennai $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Mysore is $37, 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 Mysore and Chennai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMysore $13Chennai $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMysore $26Chennai $26
Compare Hotels in Mysore and Chennai
Looking for a hotel in Mysore 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: Mysore Hotel Prices and Chennai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mysore $6.93Chennai $2.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mysore
Also for Mysore, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Mysore to Bangalore Airport: $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Mahabalipuram Hotel to Chennai Airport(MAA): $50
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Vellore: Comfortable Travel: $156
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Thiruvannamalai: Ultimate Guide: $130
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Pondicherry: Comfortable Travel: $130
- Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $39
- Private Transfer from Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport: $30
- Private Chennai Airport Transfer Arrival to Hotel: $30
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $26
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $108
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Chennai Hotels: $35
- Private Arrival Transfer Chennai Airport MAA to Mahabalipuram: $55
- From Chennai Mylapore walking trail with Guide & Transfers: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Mysore or Chennai?
Prices for flights to both Chennai and Mysore 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 dayMysore $18Chennai $9.61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mysore
For Mysore, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Tour and Food Tour of Mysore: $32
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
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mysore $8.08Chennai $2.40
Tours and Activities in Mysore
For Mysore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- All-Inclusive Mysore Full & Half-Day Tour with Hotel Pickup: $48
- Bangalore - Full day private excursion tour to Mysore with lunch: $140
- Best of Mysore (Guided Full Day City Sightseeing Tour by Car): $117
- Day Trip to Chikmagalur (Guided Sightseeing Tour by Car from Mysore): $130
- Day Trip to Wayanad (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Mysore): $130
- Discovering Mysore's Natural Wonders: Guided Half Day Tour: $74
- Explore Mysore in Nightlights: Guided Tour by Foot: $21
- Explore Old Mysore City: Guided Walking Tour by Foot: $32
- From Bangalore: Full-Day Mysore Sightseeing w/Guide: $68
- Full Day Private Guided Tour of Mysore: $97
- Full Day Story Based Tour of Mysore All inclusive: $178
- Immersive walk in Mysore by tourism ministry approved company: $50
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
- 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 and Mahabalipuram Full Day Private Guided Tour: $99
- Best of Guided Half Day City Tour with a local: $43
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMysore $8.27Chennai $2.67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mysore and Chennai, we can see that Mysore is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Mysore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mysore than you might in Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mysore Expensive? and Is Chennai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mysore or Chennai?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Mysore. When comparing the sizes of Mysore 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.