Which place is cheaper, Agra or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Agra?
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 Petra and Agra can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Agra?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
Agra
In the north of India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh is the city of Agra. This land is home to great tales of emperors and majestic temples. It is the home to a magnificent past and the greatest symbol of love known to man, the Taj Mahal.
While this incredible structure is the main draw to this area, there is much more to see. Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra can claim three different UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikiri.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Agra $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Agra is $44. 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 Petra and Agra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Agra $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Agra $32
Compare Hotels in Petra and Agra
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Agra? 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Agra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Agra $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Agra
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Agra:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Agra
Also for Agra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Pickup/Dropoff Taj Mahal/Airport/hotel transfer: $1.20
- From Delhi/Taj Mahal & Agra Day Trip with Transfers: $3.60
- Delhi: Same Day Taj Mahal, Agra Tour with Pickup & Transfer.: $4.20
- Sunrise Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Half-Day Tour with Transfer: $5.40
- Airport Transfer with Pickup and Drop-off: $5.40
- Private Transfer from Agra railway station to Hotel In Agra: $5.50
- Private Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour With Guide & Transfer: $5.92
- Round Trip Transfers Between Agra Hotels & Agra Airport AGR: $6.14
- Taj Mahal Tour with Car, Tour Guide & Hotel Transfers: $9.95
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra Private Day Trip with Transfers: $11
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Agra Day Trip with Guide & Transfer: $12
- Private Taj Mahal and Agra Day Tour with Transfer: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Agra?
Prices for flights to both Agra and Petra 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 dayPetra $38Agra $16
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
Typical Food Prices in Agra
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Agra:
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Breakfast for Two$2.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Agra
For Agra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Agra best Cooking class after Taj Mahal: $6.00
- Street Food Tour with Spice Market on Tuk-Tuk: $12
- Home Hosted Luch or dinner by Indian local Family: $18
- Agra Heritage Walk with Food Tour: $20
- Local Food Tour with Cooking Class in Home Agra Including Lunch or Dinner: $20
- Indian Food Private Cooking Class: $22
- Cooking Class and Dine with a Local Family: $23
- Old City Food Tour with Local Guide and Tastings: $23
- The Spirit of Agra - Old Market Walking and Food Tour: $26
- Cooking classes Tour Including Pickup And Dropping To Hotel: $28
- Cooking Workshop and Vegetarian Dinner in Agra with Family: $30
- Agra's best cooking classes: $31
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Agra $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
Typical Entertainment Prices in Agra
For Agra, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entry to the Red Fort for Two$7.18
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Taj Mahal for Two$18
Tours and Activities in Agra
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Agra.
- From New Delhi: Private Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Tour by Car: $0.12
- Mughal Carpet Co. Agra :- Handmade Carpet Demonstration Tour: $0.84
- Handmade Marble Demonstration Tour: $1.02
- Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line Entry Guided Tour: $1.19
- Skip-the-line entry ticket on Taj Mahal tour: $1.20
- Agra : Taj Mahal tour with guide: $1.20
- Agra:Taj Mahal Skip-The-Line Guided Tour with Free Breakfast: $1.20
- Private Taj Mahal Skip-The-Line Tour: $1.80
- Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Guided Tour with Multi Options: $1.86
- Sunset Taj Mahal Tour with Skip-The-Line & Lateral Entry: $2.04
- Agra/Delhi/Jaipur: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line Tour with Options: $2.10
- Taj Mahal and Mausoleum Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry: $2.10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Agra $9.63
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Agra, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Agra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Agra 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 Agra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Agra 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra than you might in Agra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Agra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Agra?
Agra has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Agra, 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.