A Travel Price Comparison for India Pondicherry vs. Lucknow for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pondicherry or Lucknow?

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 Lucknow 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 Lucknow?

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.

Lucknow

Lucknow, located in the central region of Awadh, is the capital city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. With a very rich cultural and historical past, Lucknow has been at the heart of North Indian culture for many centuries. It thrives in areas of art, cuisine, dance, culture, music, and more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Lucknow or Pondicherry?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pondicherry is $33, while the average daily cost in Lucknow is $46. 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 Lucknow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pondicherry $16
    Lucknow $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pondicherry $32
    Lucknow $38
Compare Hotels in Pondicherry and Lucknow

Looking for a hotel in Pondicherry or Lucknow? 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.

Hotels in Pondicherry


Hotels in Lucknow


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 Lucknow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pondicherry $5.66
    Lucknow $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucknow

Also for Lucknow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Lucknow to Kanpur: $28
  • Private Transfer from Lucknow to Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport: $42
  • Private Transfer from Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport to Lucknow: $42
  • Lucknow Airport Transfer: $28
  • Agra to Lucknow Transfer: $100

Is it cheaper to fly into Pondicherry or Lucknow?

Prices for flights to both Lucknow 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pondicherry $11
    Lucknow $17

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: $161
  • Cooking class in Pondicherry (with Lunch or Dinner): $289

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucknow

For Lucknow, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Dinner With A Maharaja In Lucknow: $272

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pondicherry $11
    Lucknow $14

Tours and Activities in Pondicherry

For Pondicherry, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Sri Arunachaleswara Temple Tour From Pondicherry: $48
  • Auroville Guided Walking Tour: $14
  • Best of the Pondicherry (Guided Full Day City Tour): $133
  • Cultural Day Tour of Pondicherry and Auroville: $262
  • Day Trip to Mahabalipuram (Curated Private Sightseeing Experience): $149
  • Guided City Tour in Pondicherry with complimentary refreshments: $47
  • Heritage & Cultural Walking Tour of Pondicherry : $15
  • Magical Pondicherry Markets Tour : $13
  • Pondicherry Art Trails (2 Hours Guided Walking Tours): $13
  • Pondicherry City Bicycle Tour: $170
  • Private Custom Tour: Pondicherry Sightseeing with Guide: $81
  • Private Walking Tour in the French Quarter of Pondicherry: $57

Tours and Activities in Lucknow

For Lucknow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2 Days Shravasti Tour From Lucknow: $108
  • 3-Days Lucknow tour for first timers - Private & guided tour : $240
  • 6-Hour Lucknow Sightseeing Tour with Hotel Pickup: $80
  • 8 Hour: Lucknow Full day City Sightseeing Trip: $61
  • A Walking Tour for Vegetarian Foodies in Lucknow: $204
  • Ayodhya Tour From Lucknow (Same Day): $284
  • Best of Lucknow (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $83
  • Colonial Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Custom Private Lucknow Sightseeing Trip with Guided Trip: $61
  • Day Tour Of Lucknow: $22
  • From 5 Days Lucknow Ayodhya Prayagraj Varanasi Tour: $341
  • From Ayodhya Private Tour with Lunch and Boat Ride: $132

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pondicherry $6.90
    Lucknow $7.04

Sample the Local Flavors in Lucknow

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucknow:

  • Pub Crawl Lucknow: $39


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pondicherry and Lucknow, we can see that Lucknow is more expensive. And not only is Pondicherry much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pondicherry would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pondicherry 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 Lucknow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lucknow than you might in Pondicherry.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pondicherry Expensive? and Is Lucknow Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Pondicherry or Lucknow?

Lucknow has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Pondicherry. When comparing the sizes of Pondicherry and Lucknow, 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.

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