Which place is cheaper, Varanasi or Paphos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Paphos or Varanasi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Paphos or Varanasi, 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 Varanasi?
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.
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Cyprus, The Best Tours for Seniors to Cyprus, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPaphos €97Varanasi €28
The average daily cost (per person) in Paphos is €97, while the average daily cost in Varanasi is €28. 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 Varanasi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPaphos €48Varanasi €15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPaphos €96Varanasi €30
Compare Hotels in Paphos and Varanasi
Looking for a hotel in Paphos or Varanasi? 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: Paphos Hotel Prices and Varanasi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paphos €12Varanasi €4.63
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town€0.90
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Rickshaw Ride€0.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $34
- From Agra: Agra to Varanasi One Way Transfer: $177
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $170
- From Varanasi Airport Transfer: $36
- Private Transfer Varanasi Airport (VNS) To Varanasi Hotels Drop: $12
- Private Varanasi Heritage Walk with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Smooth transfer from Varanasi Airport to Hotel: $60
- Spiritual Varanasi - A Most Amazing Heritage Walk with Private Transfer: $108
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $12
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $21
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $30
- Varanasi Airport to hotel private transfer: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Paphos or Varanasi?
Prices for flights to both Varanasi 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
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Food Meals for one dayPaphos €38Varanasi €6.69
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
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town€3.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tests of Best Varanasi Local Food Tour With Tourist Guide: $18
- Taste of Varanasi (2 Hour Guided Street Food Tour): $22
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $40
- From Street food tour with Evening Ganga Aarti: $42
- Private Evening Rooftop Dinner: $44
- 3-hour Shopping and Street Food Tour on a tuk-tuk ride: $46
- Evening Dinner with Private Transfer: $50
- Night Boat Ride, Aarati Ceremony and Dinner: $62
- Private Evening Street Food Tour: $63
- India: Evening Ganga Aarti With Dinner and Private Transfer: $65
- Private Evening Handicraft Market Tour with Dinner: $71
- Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paphos €12Varanasi €9.83
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride€0.78
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Audio Guided Walking Tour of Banaras Ghats, Varanasi: $6.12
- Varanasi Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.63
- Sarnath Audio Tour on HopOn India App – Land of Buddha's First Sermon, Varanasi: $7.66
- Spiritual and Heritage Walking Tour in Varanasi: $8.60
- Varanasi's Spiritual & heritage walking tour: $11
- Varanasi:- Morning Varanasi Short Tour with Boat Ride: $11
- Varanasi Walking Tour : $12
- Spiritual Tour in Varanasi with a local- Experience true essence of spirituality: $12
- Temple Walk Tour Varanasi: $12
- Ghats of Varanasi Morning Walking Tour: $12
- Vibrant Markets of Varanasi (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage Kashi Photography Tour (2 Hours guided walk): $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPaphos €9.98Varanasi €7.36
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 Varanasi, we can see that Paphos is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paphos is in Europe and Varanasi 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 Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paphos Expensive? and Is Varanasi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paphos or Varanasi?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Paphos. When comparing the sizes of Paphos and Varanasi, 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.