Which place is cheaper, Haridwar or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Haridwar?
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 Haridwar can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Haridwar?
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.
Haridwar
A spiritual journey is not complete without a trip to Haridwar as it is the lands of legends and tales cleansed by the Holy Ganga and regarded as the Holiest places for washing of sins. Haridwar is located on the foothills of the Himalayas making the place a truly memorable experience. After making a Haridwar Darshan, you will find most of your answers regarding the unknown and uncertainties. Rishikesh is very close to Haridwar, for waking the adrenaline rush in you. One can plan out so many activities to do in Haridwar for a fun filling vacation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Photography Tours in India, and The Best Religious Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Haridwar $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Haridwar is $31. 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 Haridwar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Haridwar $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Haridwar $30
Compare Hotels in Petra and Haridwar
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Haridwar? 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 Haridwar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Haridwar $5.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haridwar
Also for Haridwar, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable Dehradun Airport Transfer.: $15
- Affordable Dehradun airport transfer to Rishikesh: $20
- Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Dehradun Airport: $20
- Private Transfer from Dehradun Airport to Rishikesh: $35
- Affordable transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $39
- Affordable transfer from Dehradun to Delhi: $39
- Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $39
- Private Transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $44
- Private Transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $47
- Private Transfer from Mussoorie to Delhi: $53
- Delhi To Haridwar Transfer: $75
- Dehradun- Transfers+Hotel+Sightseeing: $271
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Haridwar?
Prices for flights to both Haridwar 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 $38Haridwar $10
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.
- Dinner with a local family in Petra , hotel transfers included .: $45
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Haridwar
For Haridwar, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sattvic Traditional Cooking Classes, Rishikesh India: $35
- Rishikesh Half Day Street Food Tour: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Haridwar $9.19
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
- Private Sightseeing Tour Visit to Petra with Licensed Guide: $100
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
Tours and Activities in Haridwar
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Haridwar.
- Guided Haunted & Mysterious Walking Tour of Mussoorie: $13
- Guided Night Walking Tour in Rishikesh - Explore the best nightlife with a local: $13
- Experience Spiritual Culture in Rishikesh with a local - A Unique Walking Tour: $14
- Private Walking Tour in Rishikesh: $18
- Guided Food Crawl Tour of Mussoorie with a local: $25
- Haridwar Tanga Tour: $29
- Adventure trip in Chakrata : $37
- Caving Tour in Rishikesh - 6 Hrs.: $45
- Rishikesh cultural sightseeing tour with Ganga Aarti: $45
- Private Kunjapuri Sunrise Tour: $49
- Discovering Dehradun: A Full Day Guided Tour: $61
- Private Day Tour - Sunrise trek Kunjapuri to Rishikesh: $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Haridwar $6.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Haridwar, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Haridwar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Haridwar 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 Haridwar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Haridwar 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 Haridwar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Haridwar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Haridwar?
Haridwar has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Haridwar, 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.