Which place is cheaper, Dharamsala or Uttar Pradesh?
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 Uttar Pradesh 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 Uttar Pradesh 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: Uttar Pradesh or Dharamsala?
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is a state in the northern plains region of India. The vast region has an ancient and interesting history which has even been said to have inspired two great epics of India, the Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is most famous for the Taj Mahal, located in Agra - the tourist capital of the region.
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 The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.
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Uttar Pradesh Prices
India PricesDharamsala Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUttar Pradesh $0.00Dharamsala $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Uttar Pradesh is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala is $41. 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 Uttar Pradesh and Dharamsala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUttar Pradesh -Dharamsala $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUttar Pradesh $0.00Dharamsala $46
Compare Hotels in Uttar Pradesh and Dharamsala
Looking for a hotel in Uttar Pradesh 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: Dharamsala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Uttar Pradesh -Dharamsala $5.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Uttar Pradesh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Uttar Pradesh:
- Round Trip Transfers Between Agra Hotels & Agra Airport AGR: $6.05
- Agra: Half Day Tour of Taj Mahal and Agra Fort with Transfers: $11
- Round Trip Transfers to Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation, Agra: $12
- Private Transfer Varanasi Airport (VNS) To Varanasi Hotels Drop: $12
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $13
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $14
- Varanasi Airport to hotel private transfer: $18
- Transfer From Agra Hotel To Agra Airport and vice versa: $22
- Varanasi - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $24
- Private Transfer from Lucknow to Kanpur: $27
- Vrindavan to Delhi private transfer: $28
- Mathura to Delhi private transfer: $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
- Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $34
Is it cheaper to fly into Uttar Pradesh or Dharamsala?
Prices for flights to both Dharamsala and Uttar Pradesh 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 dayUttar Pradesh -Dharamsala $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Uttar Pradesh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Uttar Pradesh.
- Agra Cooking Classes (Pick up and Drop available): $14
- Tests of Best Varanasi Local Food Tour With Tourist Guide: $18
- Agra's best cooking classes: $30
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $32
- Private Indian Cooking Demonstration and In-Home Meal Minutes from the Taj Mahal: $33
- Varanasi: 3-hour street food tour: $33
- Watch Bollywood Movie with Dinner in Agra: $35
- A Vegetarian Cooking Demonstration in Agra (Lunch or Dinner): $40
- Varanasi: Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Private Vegetarian Indian Cooking Class in Agra : $42
- Story of Spices- A Food Tour of Agra: $44
- Indian Cooking Class and Dine with a Local Family in Agra: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Uttar Pradesh -Dharamsala $5.49
Tours and Activities in Uttar Pradesh
Here are a few actual costs in Uttar Pradesh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Agra: skip-the-line Sunrise Taj Mahal with Mausoleum Tour: $0.81
- From Agra: Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour with Walk Inside the Mausoleum: $3.00
- Skip-The-Line Taj Mahal Sunrise Private Tour with Special Add-ons: $3.45
- Taj Mahal Ticket - Skip the line : $4.40
- Taj Mahal Sunrise Private Guided Tour: $5.00
- 05-Hours Taj Mahal & Agra Day Tour by TUK TUK: $5.00
- Agra Local Food and Shopping Tour : $5.00
- Tajmahal skip the line : $5.00
- Skip The Line Taj Mahal & Agra Tour by AC Car From Agra: $5.00
- Agra: Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Private Tour: $5.00
- Taj Mahal Entrance Ticket With Optional Add-Ons: $5.00
- Taj Mahal Agra Day Tour by Tuk Tuk/ Auto Rickshaw: $5.00
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
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $24
- Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $25
- Cultural tour - Dharamshala & Mcleodganj for full day: $30
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $41
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $41
- Dharamshala Mcleodganj Tour: $47
- Guided Tour : Tibetan's Child Charity & Monastery Visit: $50
- Private 6 hrs Mcleodganj & Dharamshala City Tour: $56
- Dharamshala: Monasteries and Nunneries Guided Tour: $56
- Dal Lake & Kangra Fort Guided Day Tour From Dharamshala: $78
- Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUttar Pradesh -Dharamsala $5.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Uttar Pradesh
Also in Uttar Pradesh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Lucknow: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Uttar Pradesh and Dharamsala, we can see that Dharamsala is more expensive. And not only is Uttar Pradesh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Uttar Pradesh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Uttar Pradesh 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 Dharamsala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dharamsala than you might in Uttar Pradesh.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Uttar Pradesh Expensive? and Is Dharamsala Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Uttar Pradesh or Dharamsala?
Uttar Pradesh has a larger population, and is about 8500 times larger than the population of Dharamsala. When comparing the sizes of Uttar Pradesh 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.