Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Kathmandu?
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.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Petra Prices
Jordan PricesKathmandu Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153Kathmandu $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $55. 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 Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Kathmandu $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Kathmandu $70
Compare Hotels in Petra and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Kathmandu $6.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Airport Transfer to and from Petra: $92
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional: $99
- Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Comfort VIP Private Transfer: Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels: $140
- Private Transfers from Petra Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $176
- Fast and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Ma’in Hot Springs: $180
- From Eilat: Petra Full-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $219
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu Airport Departure Transfer – Easy, Safe & Hassle-Free: $9.00
- Private car transfer from Kathmandu Airport to hotels in Kathmandu: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer: Arrival or Departure Service: $15
- Kathmandu - Private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer Service: $17
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer Service: $18
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle: $20
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer to hotels – Easy, Safe & Hassle-Free: $20
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel: $25
- Rent a Private Car with Driver for Kathmandu City Transfer: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu 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 $66Kathmandu $13
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.: $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.18
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Dinner for Two$2.62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu: $17
- Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
- Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
- Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
- Everest Eats Kathmandu Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
- Kathmandu Kitchens Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
- Newari Cooking Class with a Home Chef- From market to the plate.: $40
- Cooking Class with HSJ: $48
- Women Empowerment Project(Nepali cooking class & jewelry workshop: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Kathmandu $7.01
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:
- Self Guided Tour of Petra Main Trail with App (No Tickets): $8.99
- Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $60
- Private Guided Tour in Petra with licensed guide: $70
- Private 3-Hour Petra Tour: Treasury, Siq & Ancient City: $75
- Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75
- Amman: Petra by Night Tour with Optional Day Visit: $99
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $100
- Wadi Rum Private Guided Tour: $105
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $130
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.31
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.28
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.31
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Full Day Guided Tour in Kathmandu: $5.00
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $8.00
- Tourist Bus Kathmandu to Chitwan: $9.50
- Private Full Day Kathmandu Day Tour | Top 4 UNESCO Heritage Sites: $10
- Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha Hike & Tour - Private/Group: $10
- Full Day Top 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $10
- Kathmandu UNESCO Tour with 1 Hour Sound Healing Session: $10
- Kathmandu to Chitwan Tourist Bus Luxury Sofa Seater: $11
- Tourist Bus Kathmandu to Pokhara (Luxury Sofa Seat): $11
- Chitwan to Pokhara Tourist Bus Sofa seater: $11
- Chitwan to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Tickets: $11
- Chitwan to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Luxury Sofa Seater: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Kathmandu $5.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Bar Tour & Pub Crawl -Sip, Stroll, Repeat Thamel's Night: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Kathmandu, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Kathmandu, 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.