Which place is cheaper, Darjiling or Srinagar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Srinagar or Darjiling?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Srinagar or Darjiling, 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 Darjiling?
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.
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.
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 $26Darjiling $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Srinagar is $26, 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 Srinagar and Darjiling in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSrinagar $15Darjiling $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSrinagar $30Darjiling $26
Compare Hotels in Srinagar and Darjiling
Looking for a hotel in Srinagar 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: Srinagar Hotel Prices and Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Srinagar $2.56Darjiling $7.48
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: $240
- Private Transfer from Sheikh ul-Alam (SXR) Airport to Srinagar: $68
- Private Transfer from Srinagar to Sheikh ul-Alam (SXR) Airport: $68
- Private Round-trip Transfer from Srinagar to Gulmarg: $37
- Srinagar Airport Transfer: $28
- A Private Airport Transfer in Srinagar: $27
- Srinagar Airport Transfers Taxi Service: $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197
Is it cheaper to fly into Srinagar or Darjiling?
Prices for flights to both Darjiling 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 $5.17Darjiling $14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Srinagar $10Darjiling $12
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: $300
- A Private Guided Walking Tour Of Old Srinagar With Lunch: $184
- Enchanting Kashmir: A 6-Day Srinagar Adventure: $420
- From 5-Days Kashmir Tour with Gulmarg and Pahalgam: $1,799
- 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
- Magical Kashmir Tour: $715
- Private Custom Tour: Gulmarg local Sightseeing with guide: $74
- Srinagar Splendors: A Private City Tour: $65
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
- Mirik Lake Day tour From Darjeeling: $37
- Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $61
- Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $61
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $65
- Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySrinagar $2.56Darjiling $8.77
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Srinagar and Darjiling, we can see that Darjiling is more expensive. And not only is Srinagar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Srinagar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Srinagar 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 Darjiling would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darjiling than you might in Srinagar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Srinagar Expensive? and Is Darjiling Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Srinagar or Darjiling?
Srinagar has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Srinagar and 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 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.