Which place is cheaper, Varanasi or Tiberias?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tiberias or Varanasi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tiberias or Varanasi? 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 Varanasi?
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.
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Religious Tours in Israel, The Best Luxury Tours to Israel, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Tiberias Prices
Israel PricesVaranasi Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTiberias $137Varanasi $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Tiberias is $137, while the average daily cost in Varanasi is $31. 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 Varanasi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTiberias $70Varanasi $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTiberias $140Varanasi $28
Compare Hotels in Tiberias and Varanasi
Looking for a hotel in Tiberias or Varanasi? 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: Tiberias Hotel Prices and Varanasi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tiberias $5.79Varanasi $4.38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.85
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Rickshaw Ride$0.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $34
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $160
- From Agra: One-Way Private Transfer to Varanasi: $166
- Private Car Airport Transfer from Hotel in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram: $55
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $12
- Smooth transfer from Varanasi Airport to Hotel: $60
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $33
- Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer: $135
- Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including Hotel transfers: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Tiberias or Varanasi?
Prices for flights to both Varanasi 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
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Food Meals for one dayTiberias $61Varanasi $11
Typical Food Prices in Tiberias
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tiberias:
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Lunch for Two$6.76
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Pastry$2.37
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town$3.66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class with Sona: $39
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Varanasi Bliss: Private Food Tour, Boat Ride & Ganga Aarti: $62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tiberias $13Varanasi $9.30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tiberias
Here are a few typical costs in Tiberias for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Bikes for Day$41
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride$0.74
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra Tour by Gatimaan Express Train: $2.82
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $3.95
- Agra: Taj Mahal Tour with Professional photographer & Guide: $5.64
- Spiritual and Heritage Walking Tour in Varanasi: $11
- Varanasi Landmark Evening City Tour - Aarti, Boating & Witnessing the GOD: $11
- Sunrise in Banaras with Ganga Aarti (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Varanasi Pedal Rickshaw Tours: $13
- Private Yoga Experience in Varanasi: $15
- Varanasi Tuk Tuk Tour: $16
- Mysticism of Varanasi Tour with a local including free Guided Boat Ride: $17
- Sunrise in Varanasi Tour with a local with free Ganga Aarti and Boat Ride: $17
- Varanasi on Tuk Tuk (2 hours offbeat famous travel experience): $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTiberias $21Varanasi $6.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tiberias and Varanasi, we can see that Tiberias is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tiberias is in Middle East and Varanasi 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 Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tiberias Expensive? and Is Varanasi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tiberias or Varanasi?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Tiberias. When comparing the sizes of Tiberias and Varanasi, 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.