Which place is cheaper, Darjiling or Pondicherry?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for India Pondicherry vs. Darjiling for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Pondicherry or Darjiling?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pondicherry and Darjiling can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Pondicherry or Darjiling?
Pondicherry
Located on the eastern coast of India in the state of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry has a long and interesting history of trade and war as the largest French colony in India. Today the French influence in the city remains, especially in the old quarters. This being said, Pondicherry very much embodies and east-meets-west culture.
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPondicherry $34Darjiling $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Pondicherry is $34, while the average daily cost in Darjiling is $35. 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 Pondicherry and Darjiling in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPondicherry $16Darjiling $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPondicherry $32Darjiling $26
Compare Hotels in Pondicherry and Darjiling
Looking for a hotel in Pondicherry or Darjiling? 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: Pondicherry Hotel Prices and Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pondicherry $5.67Darjiling $7.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $177
- Private Transfers Darjeeling - Gangtok Drop: $98
- Private Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $55
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Pondicherry or Darjiling?
Prices for flights to both Darjiling and Pondicherry 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 dayPondicherry $11Darjiling $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pondicherry
For Pondicherry, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indian Cooking Class in Pondicherry: $28
- French-Creole Cooking Class in Pondicherry with a Local Family: $78
- South Indian Dinner With A Local Family In Pondicherry: $153
- Cooking class in Pondicherry (with Lunch or Dinner): $288
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pondicherry $11Darjiling $12
Tours and Activities in Pondicherry
For Pondicherry, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Romantic tour in Pondicherry: $438
- The best of Pondicherry walking tour: $438
- Auroville Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Best of the Pondicherry (Guided Full Day City Tour): $133
- Cultural Day Tour of Pondicherry and Auroville: $276
- Cultural Day Tour of Pondicherry and Auroville with Lunch: $334
- Day Trip to Mahabalipuram (Curated Private Sightseeing Experience): $150
- Food Walk Tour Pondicherry: $25
- Golden Private Tour in Pondicherry: $20
- Guided City Tour in Pondicherry with complimentary refreshments: $47
- Heritage & Cultural Walking Tour of Pondicherry : $15
- Highlights of the Pondicherry (Guided Half Day City Tour): $84
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Romantic tour in Darjeeling: $438
- The best of Darjeeling walking tour: $438
- 5-Day Private Tour of Gangtok and Darjeeling: $246
- A Full Day Tour Of Darjeeling: $246
- Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
- Best of Gangtok (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $84
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $25
- Darjeeling & Gangtok tour : $92
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $65
- Darjeeling Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $30
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPondicherry $6.91Darjiling $8.79
Sample the Local Flavors in Pondicherry
Also in Pondicherry, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Night Life and Local Wine Tasting Tour Pondicherry: $39
Sample the Local Flavors in Darjiling
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Darjiling:
- Pub Crawl Gangtok: $40
When comparing the travel costs between Pondicherry and Darjiling, we can see that Darjiling is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Which is Bigger, Pondicherry or Darjiling?
Pondicherry is bigger, and its population is about 84% larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the population of Pondicherry vs. Darjiling, 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 and the activities that interest you.
Related Articles for Pondicherry
Related Articles for Darjiling
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.
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