Which place is cheaper, Dharamsala or Udaipur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Udaipur or Dharamsala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Udaipur and Dharamsala. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Udaipur or Dharamsala?
Udaipur
Udaipur, also known as the "Venice of the East," is becoming increasingly popular as an Indian wedding destination as well as with travelers searching for a romantic and picturesque city, rich with history, scenic areas, and palaces.
The "City of Lakes" is located in south of Rajasthan. There are a total of ten lakes in the lake system, which are connected and sustain water for drinking, irrigation and industrial use, which contributes to another reason for Udaipur's booming tourism: alcohol.
Udaipur has ideal climate and available water to support a liquor plant while a number of other Indian states ban the consumption of liquor altogether. Many local tourists, such as those from the neighboring dry state of Gujarat on the west, visit Udaipur specifically for this reason, especially considering that Gujarati alcohol prices are much higher and liquor must be purchased through the black market. It's no wonder why Udaipur is the destination for celebrations and vacation.
Udaipur has tropical weather and three main seasons, which are summer, monsoon, and winter. Winter, which takes place between September to March, is the most pleasant time to visit for sunny and warm days and cool nights.
Udaipur was also made famous in the James Bond film Octopussy. Several local hotels show the film nightly.
Dharamsala
With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, and The Best Cultural Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUdaipur $33Dharamsala $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Udaipur is $33, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala 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 Udaipur and Dharamsala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUdaipur $16Dharamsala $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUdaipur $32Dharamsala $46
Compare Hotels in Udaipur and Dharamsala
Looking for a hotel in Udaipur or Dharamsala? 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: Udaipur Hotel Prices and Dharamsala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Udaipur $6.98Dharamsala $5.13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Udaipur
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Udaipur:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Udaipur
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Udaipur:
- Udaipur Airport : Private Transfer to/from Udaipur Hotels: $5.98
- Private Transfer From Hotel To Airport: $11
- Udaipur Airport Pick up Transfer: $12
- One Way Transfer Service From Udaipur Hotel To Airport: $13
- One Way Transfer Service From Udaipur Airport To Hotel: $13
- Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel: $14
- Private Transfer From Udaipur Hotel To Udaipur Airport: $17
- Private Transfer Udaipur Airport UDR To Udaipur Hotels: $18
- Private Transfer Udaipur Hotels To Maharana Pratap Airport UDR Drop: $18
- Udaipur Airport to Hotel or Vice Versa Transfer: $24
- Round Trip Transfers Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace with tickets: $24
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Udaipur Airport: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
- Airport to Dharamshala transfer: $50
- Chandigarh to Dharamshala Transfer: $85
- Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Udaipur or Dharamsala?
Prices for flights to both Dharamsala and Udaipur 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 dayUdaipur $11Dharamsala $8.34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Udaipur
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Udaipur.
- Private Traditional Dinner with an Indian Family in Udaipur: $8.97
- 4-Hour Indian Food Cooking Class with full Meals: $12
- Durga Cooking Class: $17
- mamta cooking class awarded by tripadvisor : $23
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $24
- Culinary Adventure: Make Pizza, Sip Wine At Royal Repast: $39
- Secret Cooking Session with the bheel Tribe: $44
- 3 Hours Indian Cooking Session at Local Home (Udaipur): $50
- Jodhpur, Osian camel ride &Dinner At Dhani (country side): $60
- Jodhpur to Osian camel safari / Dinner At Dhani: $60
- Evening Cooking Session and Dinner with an Indian Family: $72
- Night Heritage walk - " Travel with Chinmay " - Roof Top Dinner : $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dharamsala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dharamsala.
- Flavors of Dharamshala: 2-Hour Guided Street Food Tour: $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Udaipur $10Dharamsala $5.55
Typical Entertainment Prices in Udaipur
Here are a few typical costs in Udaipur for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Palace Entrance Fee$1.20
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Lake Boat Tour$2.39
Tours and Activities in Udaipur
Here are a few actual costs in Udaipur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Udaipur Sightseeing Tour by Tuk-Tuk or Car with Driver: $7.97
- Delwara Handicraft Experience: $9.20
- Udaipur Half Day City Tour by Tuk Tuk: $9.60
- Udaipur Walking Tour(2 Hours Guided Walk): $9.81
- Udaipur Night Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $9.81
- Jaipur: Immerse yourself in a full day private tour by tuk-tuk: $9.81
- Experience Indian Food: Learn To Cook with Rekha with full meals: $11
- Private day tours: $11
- Private Udaipur Village Tour by Tuk-Tuk or by Car: $12
- Udaipur Guided sightseeing Tour in Three wheeled Tuk Tuk : $12
- Udapiur: Night Walking Tour: $13
- Guided Night Walking Tour in Udaipur - Explore the best nightlife with a local: $13
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
- The Spiritual Trails of Dharamshala(Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Walking the Spiritual Path (Guided 2-Hour Dharamshala Tour): $18
- McLeodGanj Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $24
- Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $26
- Cultural tour - Dharamshala & Mcleodganj for full day: $30
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $42
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $42
- Dharamshala Mcleodganj Tour: $48
- Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $80
- Private 6 hrs Mcleodganj & Dharamshala City Tour: $96
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUdaipur $8.92Dharamsala $5.55
Sample the Local Flavors in Udaipur
Also in Udaipur, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Uaipur (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $20
- Pub Crawl Udaipur (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $35
- 3-Hour Pub Crawl: $38
- Pub Crawl Udaipur: $39
When comparing the travel costs between Udaipur and Dharamsala, we can see that Dharamsala 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 Udaipur Expensive? and Is Dharamsala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Udaipur or Dharamsala?
Udaipur has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Dharamsala. When comparing the sizes of Udaipur and Dharamsala, 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.