A Travel Price Comparison for India Varanasi vs. Cochin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Varanasi or Cochin?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Varanasi and Cochin can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Varanasi or Cochin?

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.

Cochin

Cochin is a large city in Kerala, India. It's a cosmopolitan commercial port city with a population of over two million and is a major tourist destination. The city has a diverse population that has migrated from elsewhere in Kerala, as well as the rest of India. The city continues to become more cosmopolitan with fashion shifting to western styles. There are also many large shopping malls as well as an enthusiasm for sports such as football (soccer) or cricket.

Which place is cheaper, Cochin or Varanasi?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $31, while the average daily cost in Cochin is $37. 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 Varanasi and Cochin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Varanasi $17
    Cochin $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Varanasi $34
    Cochin $30
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Cochin

Looking for a hotel in Varanasi or Cochin? 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 Varanasi


Hotels in Cochin


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: Varanasi Hotel Prices and Cochin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Varanasi $5.02
    Cochin $10
Typical Local Transportation prices in Varanasi

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:


  • Tuk Tuk Through Town
    $0.97
  • Rickshaw Ride
    $0.61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi

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

  • 3-hours Temple hopping with transfers: $33
  • Airport Transfer - Lal Bahadur Shastri Intl Airport, Varanasi to Varanasi Hotels: $11
  • Airport Transfer - Varanasi Hotels to Varanasi International Airport, Varanasi: $11
  • Airport Transfers by Sedan: $28
  • Boat ride on the Ganges to Ramnagar fort with Transfers: $43
  • Day tour to Rajdari and Devdari Waterfalls with transfers: $43
  • Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $32
  • Echoes of Varanasi, India (Private Tour, Transfers & Guide): $128
  • From Boat ride on the Ganges to Ramnagar fort with Transfers: $43
  • From Day tour To Sarnath With Transfers: $43
  • From Day tour to Rajdari and Devdari Waterfalls with transfers: $87
  • From Temple hopping with transfers: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Cochin?

Prices for flights to both Cochin and Varanasi 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
    Varanasi $7.24
    Cochin $12
Typical Food prices in Varanasi

For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner In Town
    $4.19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi

For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour of Benares - the Food Specialties of Kashi / Varanasi / the Ghats: $36
  • Indian Cooking Classes with Local Chef in Varanasi: $37
  • From Street food tour with Evening Ganga Aarti: $40
  • Street food tour with Evening Ganga Aarti: $43
  • 3-hour Home Cooking Food tour with a local Family: $43
  • Afternoon tour of Varanasi with Evening Boat ride & Dinner: $43
  • From Varanasi:3-hour home cooking tour with a local family: $43
  • 3-hour Shopping and Street Food Tour on a tuk-tuk ride: $43
  • Private Evening Rooftop Dinner: $44
  • 3-hour Shopping and Street Food Tour on a tuk-tuk ride: $44
  • 5:hours Private Evening Aarti With Rooftop Dinner: $62
  • Private Evening Street Food Tour: $63

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Varanasi $11
    Cochin $10
Typical Entertainment prices in Varanasi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Boat Ride
    $0.85

Tours and Activities in Varanasi

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

  • Audio Guided Walking Tours of Banaras Gullys & Ghats, Varanasi: $5.13
  • Heritage Walking Tours: $5.22
  • Audio Guided Walking Tour of Banaras Ghats, Varanasi: $5.89
  • Varanasi Walking Tour - Pay as you wish: $7.20
  • Sarnath Audio Guided Tour – The Land of Buddha's First Sermon, Varanasi: $7.36
  • Varanasi Cultural and Heritage Tour - A Guided Walk Tour: $8.42
  • Kashi Photography and Heritage Tour - A Guided Walk Tour: $8.52
  • Walking Tour By Aman: $10
  • Varanasi Day Tour: $10
  • Cultural & Spiritual Trails of Old Town Varanasi Guided Walking Tour: $11
  • Varanasi Temple Tour: $11
  • Relish Food in Varanasi - A Guided Food Walk Tour: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Varanasi $7.97
    Cochin $8.91

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Cochin, we can see that Cochin is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Cochin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cochin than you might in Varanasi.

Budget Your Trip

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Varanasi vs. Cochin Travel Comparison

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