Which place is cheaper, Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Kolkata (Calcutta)?
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 Kolkata (Calcutta). 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 Kolkata (Calcutta)?
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.
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal, India. Featuring colonial architecture, galleries, temples, and festivals, the city has flourished from its roots as an East India Company trading post in the 18th Century to a thriving metropolis. Today Kolkata is a diverse center of culture and bustling activity.
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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Uttar Pradesh Prices
India PricesKolkata (Calcutta) Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUttar Pradesh $39Kolkata (Calcutta) $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Uttar Pradesh is $39, while the average daily cost in Kolkata (Calcutta) is $42. 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUttar Pradesh $14Kolkata (Calcutta) $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUttar Pradesh $28Kolkata (Calcutta) $30
Compare Hotels in Uttar Pradesh and Kolkata (Calcutta)
Looking for a hotel in Uttar Pradesh or Kolkata (Calcutta)? 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: Kolkata (Calcutta) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Uttar Pradesh $6.94Kolkata (Calcutta) $4.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Uttar Pradesh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Uttar Pradesh:
- Private Transfer from Agra railway station to Hotel In Agra: $5.50
- Agra Airport to Agra Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $8.14
- Lucknow Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $8.15
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer Agra to Jaipur with Fatehpur Sikri: $21
- Transfer From Agra Hotel To Agra Airport and vice versa: $22
- Private Transfer from Lucknow to Kanpur: $25
- Agra: Half Day Tour of Taj Mahal and Agra Fort with Transfers: $27
- Mathura to Delhi private transfer: $28
- Vrindavan to Delhi private transfer: $28
- One-Way Transfers assistance Agra to Jaipur Drop: $33
- One-Way Transfers assistance Agra to Bharatpur Hotels Drop: $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kolkata (Calcutta):
- Build Your Own: custom private tour of Kolkata with transfers: $74
- Departure transfer from Hotel to Airport in Kolkata: $44
- Kolkata - Arrival transfer from Airport to Hotel: $43
- Kolkata Airport to Kolkata Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $33
- Path of Knowledge: A Heritage Walking Tour of Kolkata with Private Transfer: $153
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kolkata Airport: $23
- Private Transfer from Kolkata to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (CCU) Airport: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Uttar Pradesh or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Prices for flights to both Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 $18Kolkata (Calcutta) $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Uttar Pradesh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Uttar Pradesh.
- Dine In Indian, home cooked food Agra Food tour My Magic Kitchen: $20
- Agra Local Arts and Crafts and Food Tours with Guide: $20
- Private Indian Cooking Demonstration and In-Home Meal Minutes from the Taj Mahal: $33
- Watch Bollywood Movie with Dinner in Agra: $35
- Indian Home Visit Cooking Demo: $38
- Seth Gali Bazaar Walk with Lavish on table barbecue dinner: $38
- Cooking Demonstration + Meals and interaction Workshop: $38
- Cooking Class with Sona: $39
- Authentic Indian Family Cooking Class in Agra: $40
- Dinner at Agra with local Indian family: $40
- Varanasi: Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Agra Food Tour - A walking buffet: $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kolkata (Calcutta).
- Hooghly River Dinner Cruise: $39
- Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $39
- Alleyway Food Tour: $40
- Food Tour Delights of Kolkata with Aditya: $111
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Uttar Pradesh $10Kolkata (Calcutta) $13
Tours and Activities in Uttar Pradesh
Here are a few actual costs in Uttar Pradesh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Lucknow Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $3.80
- The local & old market Shopping tour: $5.00
- Agra’s Hidden Gems & Flavors on a Thrilling Tuk-Tuk Tour 3-4 Hrs: $5.00
- Taj Mahal Ticket - Skip the line: $5.00
- Agra: Taj Mahal Skip The Line Entry Tour With 5* Lunch: $5.43
- Agra: skip-the-line Sunrise Taj Mahal with Mausoleum Tour: $5.64
- Agra Fort Visits - Skip the line entry with Licensed Tour Guide: $5.97
- LOCAL Agra :Taj Mahal Sunrise / Sunset Private Tour by Car: $8.00
- Private Tour personal Driver & Lauxry Car: $8.00
- Taj Mahal Agra Fort Tour From Agra - Skip the line: $8.00
- Shopping Tour in Agra with Local Tour Guide Include Marble Inlay Factory by Car: $9.75
- Skip-the-Line: Agra Fort Entrance Ticket with Guided Tour: $10
Tours and Activities in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kolkata (Calcutta) are as follows:
- Audio Guided Tour of Pathuriaghata – Finding the Tagores, Kolkata: $6.12
- Walking Tour of Kolkata Heritage and Food: $22
- Hello Calcutta Walk Tour: $25
- Flower Market Colors and Ganges Ghat Experience: $30
- Hooghly River Evening Cruise: $35
- Chasing The Sun Experience Kolkata's Culture: $35
- Kolkata's Flower Market - Hooghly's Flower Fest Tour: $39
- Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour: $39
- Magic Hour Tour: $40
- Kolkata Midtown Madness- A Street Food & Nightlife Tour: $42
- Old City Walking Tour - North Kolkata: $42
- Kolkata Private Half Day City Tour To Majestic Temples: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUttar Pradesh $5.69Kolkata (Calcutta) $7.33
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: $35
When comparing the travel costs between Uttar Pradesh and Kolkata (Calcutta), we can see that Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Uttar Pradesh Expensive? and Is Kolkata (Calcutta) Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Uttar Pradesh or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Uttar Pradesh has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Kolkata (Calcutta). When comparing the sizes of Uttar Pradesh and Kolkata (Calcutta), 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.