Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya or Petra?
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 Petra or Bodh Gaya?
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 Bodh Gaya can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Bodh Gaya?
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.
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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.
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Petra Prices
Jordan PricesBodh Gaya Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153Bodh Gaya $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is $56. 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 Bodh Gaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Bodh Gaya $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Bodh Gaya $40
Compare Hotels in Petra and Bodh Gaya
Looking for a hotel in Petra 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.
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 Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Bodh Gaya $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private Transfers from Petra Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $176
- Private Transfer from Petra to Sheikh Hussein Border Crossing: $195
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Ma'in Hotel to Aqaba Airport: $120
- Private Transfer From or To Airport, Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea: $33
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional: $88
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
- Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya
Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13
- Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
- Gaya Airport (GAY) Private Transfer to Gaya City/Hotels: $25
- Private Airport Transfer Gaya to or from Bodhgaya Hotel: $25
- Gaya: Create Your Own Itinerary - Private Tour & Transfer: $51
- From Varanasi: Bodhgaya Day Trip with Private Transfer: $106
- 3 Day Private Bodhgaya Sightseeing Tour with Transfer: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Bodh Gaya?
Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya 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 $66Bodh Gaya $24
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.
- Authentic Jordanian Cooking, Taste of Comfort With Family: $28
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains.: $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Bodh Gaya $8.65
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:
- 2-Day Private Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea from Amman: $210
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- From Petra : Wadi Rum Private 8 - hours roundtrip tour .: $190
- Full day Petra and Wadi Rum tour, returning to Amman Or Airport: $84
- Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $70
- Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour: $200
- Petra 3-Hour Private Tour with a Local Guide: $60
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- Petra Highlights Guided Golf Cart Tour with Hotel Pickup: $169
- Private 3-Day Jordan Tour from Amman: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $270
- Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75
Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya
For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Multilingual Private Day Tour of Temple & Buddha Sites: $26
- Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
- Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $31
- Gaya and Bodh Gaya Full-Day Private Tour: $44
- Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $44
- Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $49
- Private Guided Tour of Bodhgaya with Hotel Pickup: $50
- Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $52
- BODHGAYA FULL DAY TOUR: $56
- Bodhgaya Full Day Tour: $63
- Private Tour of Bodhgaya and Gaya Including Vishnupad Temple: $70
- Half Day Private Guided Tour in Bodh Gaya & Dungeshwari Caves: $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Bodh Gaya $4.97
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Bodh Gaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East 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 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 Bodh Gaya.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Bodh Gaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Bodh Gaya?
Bodh Gaya has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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.
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.