Which place is cheaper, Lucknow or Pune?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pune or Lucknow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pune or Lucknow, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Pune or Lucknow?
Pune
Located in Maharashtra, Pune is the state's second largest city and cultural capital. Not only is it a hub for museums, temples, beaches, and scenic overlooks, but it also has a thriving nightlife and general atmosphere due to the student population.
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 Cultural Tours in India, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India, The Best Photography Tours in India, and The Best Religious Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPune $51Lucknow $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Pune is $51, 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 Pune and Lucknow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPune $23Lucknow $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPune $46Lucknow $38
Compare Hotels in Pune and Lucknow
Looking for a hotel in Pune 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.
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: Pune Hotel Prices and Lucknow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pune $13Lucknow $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pune
Also for Pune, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Simon Cabaret Show in Phuket including Return Transfer: $48
- Pune Airport Transfer in Private Vehicle: $50
- Pune Airport Transfer: $30
- Private Transfer from Pune to Nashik: $44
- Private Transfer from Pune (PNQ) Airport to Pune City: $37
- Mumbai-Pune Transfer: $68
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: $41
- Private Transfer from Chaudhary Charan Singh (LKO) Airport to Lucknow: $41
- Lucknow Airport Transfer: $28
- Lucknow 3-Days Private Tour with Hotel and Transfers: $277
- Agra to Lucknow Transfer: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Pune or Lucknow?
Prices for flights to both Lucknow and Pune 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 dayPune $18Lucknow $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pune
For Pune, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Street Food Tour with Cultural Charms of Pune: $21
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $32
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $33
- Coral Island, Promthep Cape & Sunset Dinner with Power Catamaran: $53
- Organic Thai cooking class: $67
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pune $17Lucknow $14
Tours and Activities in Pune
For Pune, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-Hour Tour: Pune University Complex Cycling Private Tour: $139
- Agra Taj Tour from Pune: $220
- Airport pickup-drop, Mumbai sightseeing and outstation: $40
- All-in Phi Phi, Maiton, MayaBay, Khai, Bamboo islands Tour : $58
- Best of Pune Sightseeing with Food Tasting Tour by Private Car: $88
- Cultural Walking Tour of Pune with Local Snacks: $23
- Day Trip to Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani (Guided Fullday Sightseeing Tour from Pune): $149
- Day Trip to Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani (Guided Fullday Tour): $143
- Day Trip to Pune Curated Private Tour Experience from Mumbai: $159
- Discovering A Half-Day Guided Tour of Best Sights: $46
- Experience Spiritual Culture in Pune with a local - 2 Hours: $17
- Food Walk Tour Pune (2 Hours Guided Food Tasting Walk): $25
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
- 6-Hour Lucknow Sightseeing Tour with Hotel Pickup: $80
- 8 Hour: Lucknow Full day City Sightseeing Trip: $61
- 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 Delhi:Ayodhya express tour from Delhi with private car: $347
- From 5 Days Lucknow Ayodhya Prayagraj Varanasi Tour: $342
- From Ayodhya Private Tour with Lunch and Boat Ride: $132
- From Varanasi: One Day Ayodhya Tour from Varanasi: $144
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPune $15Lucknow $7.04
Sample the Local Flavors in Pune
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Pune:
- Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $37
- Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $39
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 comparing the travel costs between Pune and Lucknow, we can see that Pune 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pune Expensive? and Is Lucknow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pune or Lucknow?
Pune has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Lucknow. When comparing the sizes of Pune 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.
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.