Should you visit Mysore or Dharamsala?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Mysore and Dharamsala. 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Dharamsala or Mysore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mysore is $31, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala is $32. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Mysore and Dharamsala in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Mysore, $26 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Mysore, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $13, such as in a hostel.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $21. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Dharamsala the cost is $42 on average.
Food
Food in Mysore costs travelers about $11 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The average traveler spends about $7.52 per day in Dharamsala for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Mysore $11
Dharamsala $7.52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mysore
For Mysore, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Local Uttrakhand Cuisine Cooking Class in Rishikesh:
$9.89
-
Udaipur Food Tour:
$12
-
Authentic Indian Tea Brewing and Paratha Cooking Private Online Class:
$15
-
Hyderabad Street Food Tour:
$16
-
Wagah Beating Retreat Border Ceremony (with Dinner) in Amritsar:
$16
-
Authentic Maharashtrian Cuisine Private Virtual Cooking Class from Mumbai:
$18
-
Mandovi River Dinner Cruise in Goa:
$19
-
Cooking Class And Dining Experience In Varanasi:
$20
-
North Kerala Culinary Food Tour in Thalassery:
$24
-
Mumbai Walking Food Tour:
$25
-
Cooking and Dining Experience in Agra:
$27
-
Cooking Class with a Local Family in Mumbai:
$36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dharamsala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dharamsala.
-
Local Uttrakhand Cuisine Cooking Class in Rishikesh:
$9.89
-
Udaipur Food Tour:
$12
-
Authentic Indian Tea Brewing and Paratha Cooking Private Online Class:
$15
-
Hyderabad Street Food Tour:
$16
-
Wagah Beating Retreat Border Ceremony (with Dinner) in Amritsar:
$16
-
Authentic Maharashtrian Cuisine Private Virtual Cooking Class from Mumbai:
$18
-
Mandovi River Dinner Cruise in Goa:
$19
-
Cooking Class And Dining Experience In Varanasi:
$20
-
North Kerala Culinary Food Tour in Thalassery:
$24
-
Mumbai Walking Food Tour:
$25
-
Cooking and Dining Experience in Agra:
$27
-
Cooking Class with a Local Family in Mumbai:
$36
Local Transportation
Mysore's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $7.20 per person, per day on transportation in Mysore.
The average price of local transportation around Dharamsala is $4.62 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mysore
Also for Mysore, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport Transfers (BOM) for Mumbai:
$12
-
Private Amritsar International Airport Transfers (ATQ) for Amritsar :
$13
-
Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport Private Transfers (SXR) for Srinagar:
$14
-
Private Jaipur International Airport Transfers (JAI) for Downtown Jaipur:
$14
-
Private Jaisalmer Airport Transfers (JSA) for Jaisalmer:
$14
-
Private Rajkot Airport (RAJ) Transfers for Rajkot:
$15
-
Private Surat International Airport (STV) Transfers for Surat:
$15
-
Private Chandigarh International Airport (IXC) Transfers for Chandigarh:
$15
-
Private Kanpur Airport (KNU) Transfers for Kanpur:
$15
-
Private Vadodara Airport (BDQ) Transfers for Vadodara:
$15
-
Private Civil Enclave Jamnagar Airport (JGA) Transfers for Jamnagar:
$15
-
Private Jodhpur Airport (JDH/JOH) Transfers for Jodhpur:
$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
-
Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport Private Transfers (SXR) for Srinagar:
$14
-
Pune International Airport Private Transfers (PNQ) for Pune:
$19
-
Private Vadodara Airport (BDQ) Transfers for Vadodara:
$15
-
Private Transfers From Delhi To Jim Corbett National Park:
$59
-
Private Surat International Airport (STV) Transfers for Surat:
$15
-
Private Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Transfers (AMD) for Ahmedabad:
$16
-
Private Rajkot Airport (RAJ) Transfers for Rajkot:
$15
-
Private Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport Transfers (CCU) for Kolkata:
$21
-
Private Maharana Pratap Airport Transfers (UDR) for Udaipur:
$21
-
Private Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport Transfers (VNS) for Varanasi:
$19
-
Private Kozhikode Airport (CCJ) Transfers for Calicut:
$19
-
Private Kempegowda International Airport Transfers (BLR) for Bangalore:
$28
Is it cheaper to fly into Mysore or Dharamsala?
Prices for flights to both Dharamsala 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Mysore can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $8.39 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Dharamsala's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $5.01 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Mysore
For Mysore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Shaniwar Wada Fort Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket:
$0.35
-
Palace of Tipu Sultan Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket:
$0.39
-
Akbar's Tomb Entry Ticket in Agra:
$0.39
-
Bekal Fort Entry Ticket:
$0.50
-
Golconda Fort Fast-Track Ticket:
$0.55
-
Safdarjung Tomb Entry Ticket:
$0.55
-
Daria Daulat Bagh Entry Ticket in Srirangapatna:
$0.55
-
Purana Qila Fast-Track Ticket:
$0.55
-
Gwalior Fort Entry Ticket in Madhya Pradesh:
$0.55
-
Ancient Leh Palace Entry Tickets:
$0.55
-
Bellary Fort Entry Ticket:
$0.55
-
Dindigul Fort Entry Ticket:
$0.55
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
-
Explore Old City of Hyderabad with Experienced Storyteller Online Experience:
$19
-
Instagram Tour in Delhi:
$101
-
Lamadug Trekking Day Tour from Manali:
$21
-
Mathura Vrindavan, Taj Mahal and Agra City Private Day Tour from Delhi:
$118
-
11D10N Golden Triangle and Holy City Private Tour from Delhi:
$863
-
2D Delhi and Agra Combo Private Tour:
$110
-
2D1N Adventure Camping in Jaipur:
$33
-
2D1N Bhandardara Lakeside Camping Experience :
$20
-
2D1N Bhandardara Lakeside Camping Experience from Mumbai:
$20
-
2D1N Gir National Park Tour from Ahmedabad:
$69
-
2D1N Golden Triangle Tour from Delhi:
$158
-
2D1N Hampi Private Sightseeing Tour from Bangalore:
$164
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Mysore spend on average $8.60 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $5.01 on alcoholic beverages in Dharamsala per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Mysore
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mysore:
-
Pub Crawl in Delhi:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Pune:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Mumbai:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Jaipur:
$18
-
Udaipur Pub Crawl:
$19
-
South Mumbai Pub Crawl:
$19
-
Pub Crawl In Bangalore:
$19
-
Pub Crawl in Goa:
$20
-
Sula Vineyards with Wine Tasting Day Tour from Mumbai:
$49
Sample the Local Flavors in Dharamsala
Also in Dharamsala, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Pub Crawl in Delhi:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Pune:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Mumbai:
$18
-
Pub Crawl in Jaipur:
$18
-
Udaipur Pub Crawl:
$19
-
South Mumbai Pub Crawl:
$19
-
Pub Crawl In Bangalore:
$19
-
Pub Crawl in Goa:
$20
-
Sula Vineyards with Wine Tasting Day Tour from Mumbai:
$49
When comparing the travel costs between Mysore and Dharamsala, we can see that Dharamsala 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.
Related Articles for Mysore
Related Articles for Dharamsala
