A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tiberias vs. Bodh Gaya for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tiberias or Bodh Gaya?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Tiberias or Bodh Gaya? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Tiberias or Bodh Gaya?

Tiberias

Tiberias is a major tourist destination in Israel. It's positioned on the western side of the Sea of Galilee and is a popular spot for Israeli and international tourists alike. The town itself offers great views of the beautiful blue waters and the surrounding green hills. Tiberias is also considered to be one of the Jewish Four Holy Cities. Many people also use Tiberias as a jumping off point to explore the Golan Heights area.

Bodh Gaya

Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.

Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.

Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Jerusalem, The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya or Tiberias?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tiberias is $87, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is $52. 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 Tiberias and Bodh Gaya in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tiberias $55
    Bodh Gaya $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tiberias $110
    Bodh Gaya $44
Compare Hotels in Tiberias and Bodh Gaya

Looking for a hotel in Tiberias or Bodh Gaya? 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 Tiberias


Hotels in Bodh Gaya


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: Tiberias Hotel Prices and Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tiberias $4.55
    Bodh Gaya $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya

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

  • Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Airport: $13
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13

Is it cheaper to fly into Tiberias or Bodh Gaya?

Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya and Tiberias 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
    Tiberias $28
    Bodh Gaya $16
Typical Food Prices in Tiberias

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tiberias:


  • Lunch for Two
    $5.30
  • Pastry
    $1.86

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tiberias $10
    Bodh Gaya $9.82
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tiberias

Here are a few typical costs in Tiberias for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Two Bikes for Day
    $32

Tours and Activities in Tiberias

Here are a few actual costs in Tiberias for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Culinary Day Tour of the Galilee: $287
  • Haifa Shore Excursion: Nazareth and the Galilee - for cruise ship guests only: $115
  • Safed Wine & Cheese Tour: $250
  • Shabbat Experience in Tzfat with Wine Pairing: $160

Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya

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

  • Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
  • Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $32
  • Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $34
  • Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $39
  • Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $53
  • Excursion tour of Rajgir & Nalanda from Bodhgaya: $63
  • From Varanasi: Private Same Day Bodhgaya Tour: $144
  • Private guided tour of Bodh Gaya over 2 days : $175
  • Exclusive Guided Tour of Bodh Gaya: $227
  • Spiritual, Bodhgaya Tour (01 Night / 02 Days): $336

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tiberias $17
    Bodh Gaya $5.64


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tiberias and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Tiberias is more expensive. And not only is Bodh Gaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tiberias is in Middle East and Bodh Gaya is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bodh Gaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bodh Gaya 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 Tiberias would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tiberias than you might in Bodh Gaya.

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


Which is Bigger, Tiberias or Bodh Gaya?

Tiberias has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Tiberias and Bodh Gaya, 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.