Which place is cheaper, Chennai or Srinagar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Srinagar or Chennai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Srinagar or Chennai, 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: Srinagar or Chennai?
Srinagar
Lying on the banks of the Jhelum River, Srinagar is the largest city and the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is best known for its gardens, waterfronts, and houseboats as well as local traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dried fruits.
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best Budget Tours to India, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New Delhi, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySrinagar $26Chennai $28
The average daily cost (per person) in Srinagar is $26, while the average daily cost in Chennai is $28. 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 Srinagar and Chennai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSrinagar $15Chennai $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSrinagar $30Chennai $30
Compare Hotels in Srinagar and Chennai
Looking for a hotel in Srinagar or Chennai? 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: Srinagar Hotel Prices and Chennai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Srinagar $2.56Chennai $2.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Srinagar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Srinagar:
- Srinagar- transfers+Hotel+Sightseeing: $254
- Srinagar To Leh, Ladakh Taxi (One way Transfer): $246
- Kashmir: 5-Day Tour with Houseboat Stay and Transfers: $239
- Private Transfer from Sheikh ul-Alam (SXR) Airport to Srinagar: $68
- Private Transfer from Srinagar to Sheikh ul-Alam (SXR) Airport: $68
- Innova To and Fro Pvt. Airport Transfer from Srinagar / Dal Lake: $33
- Srinagar Airport Transfer: $28
- A Private Airport Transfer in Srinagar: $27
- Srinagar Airport Transfers Taxi Service: $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
- Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
- Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer: $246
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $145
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Srinagar or Chennai?
Prices for flights to both Chennai and Srinagar 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 daySrinagar $5.17Chennai $6.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Street Food Tour in Sowcarpet Chennai : $37
- Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai: $46
- Private Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai : $48
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
- Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
- Private 3-Hour Cooking Lesson and Meal in Chennai: $100
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $216
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Srinagar $10Chennai $2.77
Tours and Activities in Srinagar
Here are a few actual costs in Srinagar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 5 Days and 4 Nights Private Tour of Kashmir: $285
- 6 Days Kashmir Tour with Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg: $299
- Enchanting Kashmir: A 6-Day Srinagar Adventure: $419
- From 5-Days Kashmir Tour with Gulmarg and Pahalgam: $1,794
- Full day tour of Srinagar with Entrance Fee & Guide: $154
- Full day tour of Srinagar with Entrance Fee, Guide, Shikara ride & Lunch: $222
- Gulmarg Adventure: A Thrilling Day Trip from Srinagar: $71
- Kashmir Houseboat Tour Package: $209
- Lake Tour of Kashmir: $65
- Magical Kashmir Tour: $713
- Srinagar Splendors: A Private City Tour: $65
- 3-Day Houseboat Tour with Mughal Gardens Visit: $419
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Chennai Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Explore Chennai in Nightlights (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Spiritual Trails of Chennai (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Private Night Walking Tour Chennai: $13
- Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $16
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $16
- Magical Chennai Markets Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Chennai Street Food Crawl ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $21
- Food Walk Tour Chennai: $25
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $26
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySrinagar $2.56Chennai $3.08
When comparing the travel costs between Srinagar and Chennai, we can see that Chennai 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 Srinagar Expensive? and Is Chennai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Srinagar or Chennai?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Srinagar. When comparing the sizes of Srinagar and Chennai, 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.