A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Paphos vs. Bodh Gaya for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Paphos or Bodh Gaya?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Paphos or Bodh Gaya, 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: Paphos or Bodh Gaya?

Paphos

Located on the southwestern tip of Cyprus, Paphos has many different archaeological sights and it is renowned as the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The town is situated between the coast and the Troodos Mountains and it has grown in recent years as a tourist destination. As such, the local government has made efforts to improve the quality of the tourism infrastructure including investing in hotels, restaurants and transportation. There is also a commercial center to the city as well as a newly built "promenade" that travels from the marina along a long coastal path. This route offers excellent views, especially during the morning or evening hours when the sun is low.

Bodh Gaya

Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.

Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.

Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Cyprus, The Best Tours for Seniors to Cyprus, The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya or Paphos?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Paphos is €97, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is €48. 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 Paphos and Bodh Gaya in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Paphos 48
    Bodh Gaya 21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Paphos 96
    Bodh Gaya 42
Compare Hotels in Paphos and Bodh Gaya

Looking for a hotel in Paphos or Bodh Gaya? 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.

Hotels in Paphos


Hotels in Bodh Gaya


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: Paphos Hotel Prices and Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Paphos 12
    Bodh Gaya 21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paphos

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paphos:

  • Transfer from Paphos Airport PFO to Limassol City by Luxury Van: $102
  • Private Transfer from Paphos Airport to Larnaca in Minivan(Taxi): $192
  • Private Transfer from Paphos Airport PFO to Polis City by Sedan: $69
  • Private Transfer Paphos Airport PFO to Nicosia City by Luxury Van: $167
  • Paphos:Ocean Vision BBQ Sunset Cruise with food and transfer: $42
  • Ocean Vision Sunset Cruise with BBQ, transfer, swim stop: $54
  • Ocean Vision BBQ Cruise with transfer, swim stop & food: $54
  • Night Cruise w/Dance Show, Food, Open Bar & Transfer: $68
  • Choirokitia & Famagusta Guided Tour with Transfers: $43
  • 180 Minutes BBQ Cruise with food & Transfer: $42
  • Paphos Airport (PFO) to Paphos city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $61
  • From Nicosia Sightseeing Tour with Hotel Transfer: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya

Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Airport: $13
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13

Is it cheaper to fly into Paphos or Bodh Gaya?

Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya and Paphos 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
    Paphos 38
    Bodh Gaya 15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paphos

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paphos.

  • From Sunset Drink at Aphrodite's Rock & Folk Dinner: $53
  • Sunset Drink at Aphrodite's Rock & Folk Dinner: $54
  • Wave Dancer Fireworks, Buffet Dinner & Show Cruise: $67

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Paphos 12
    Bodh Gaya 9.15

Tours and Activities in Paphos

Here are a few actual costs in Paphos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Guided Tour of Limassol with Kourion and Kolossi Castle : $49
  • 100% Cyprus - Tour to Troodos mountains and villages (From Paphos) : $53
  • 6 hour Buggy Tour Akamas incl lunch and Adonis Falls: $210
  • 6-Hour Quad or Buggy Tour incl Lunch and Entrance to Adonis Falls: $88
  • Adonis Falls Lazy Sunday Quad and Buggy Adventure : $66
  • Afternoon Quad and Buggy Tour to Adonis falls approx 2 hours: $60
  • Akamas Jeep Safari Tour from Paphos: $62
  • Akamas Panorama: Private Mini Bus Tour With Local Guide: $592
  • Akamas Peninsula Full Day 4x4 Winter Tour: $71
  • Ancient Kourion, Kolossi Castle, Omodos & Winery Tour - Paphos: $94
  • Baths of Aphrodite, Latchi and Blue Lagoon Cruise Tour: $41
  • Blue Lagoon (Akamas) Cruise: $35

Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya

For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
  • Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $32
  • Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $34
  • Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $39
  • Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $53
  • Excursion tour of Rajgir & Nalanda from Bodhgaya: $63
  • From Varanasi: Private Same Day Bodhgaya Tour: $144
  • Private guided tour of Bodh Gaya over 2 days : $175
  • Exclusive Guided Tour of Bodh Gaya: $227
  • Spiritual, Bodhgaya Tour (01 Night / 02 Days): $336

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Paphos 9.98
    Bodh Gaya 5.25

Sample the Local Flavors in Paphos

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paphos:

  • Wine tasting and winery tour at Fikardos Winery: $29
  • Troodos Mountains Jeep Tour with Wine Tasting: $70
  • Regional Wineries Tour with Wine Tastings: $102
  • WINE TOUR from Paphos: $104


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paphos and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Paphos is more expensive. And not only is Bodh Gaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paphos is in Europe and Bodh Gaya is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bodh Gaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bodh Gaya 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 Paphos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paphos than you might in Bodh Gaya.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paphos Expensive? and Is Bodh Gaya Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Paphos or Bodh Gaya?

Paphos has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Paphos and Bodh Gaya, 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.