Which place is cheaper, Haridwar or Varanasi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Varanasi or Haridwar?
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 Haridwar 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 Haridwar?
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.
Haridwar
A spiritual journey is not complete without a trip to Haridwar as it is the lands of legends and tales cleansed by the Holy Ganga and regarded as the Holiest places for washing of sins. Haridwar is located on the foothills of the Himalayas making the place a truly memorable experience. After making a Haridwar Darshan, you will find most of your answers regarding the unknown and uncertainties. Rishikesh is very close to Haridwar, for waking the adrenaline rush in you. One can plan out so many activities to do in Haridwar for a fun filling vacation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVaranasi $30Haridwar $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $30, while the average daily cost in Haridwar 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 Varanasi and Haridwar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVaranasi $16Haridwar $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVaranasi $32Haridwar $30
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Haridwar
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi or Haridwar? 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: Varanasi Hotel Prices and Haridwar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varanasi $4.94Haridwar $5.30
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$0.96
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Rickshaw Ride$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Agra: Agra to Varanasi One Way Transfer: $177
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $170
- Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer: $135
- Spiritual Varanasi - A Most Amazing Heritage Walk with Private Transfer: $108
- Private Transfer from Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport to Varanasi: $41
- From Varanasi Airport Transfer: $36
- Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $34
- Private Departure Transfer to Airport from Hotel in Delhi By Car: $34
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $30
- Private Varanasi Heritage Walk with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Varanasi Airport: Transfer to/from Varanasi Hotels & Airport: $18
- Varanasi Airport to hotel private transfer: $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haridwar
Also for Haridwar, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $47
- Private Transfer from Mussoorie to Delhi: $53
- Private Transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $44
- Private Transfer from Dehradun to Delhi: $46
- Private Transfer from Dehradun Airport to Rishikesh: $35
- Delhi To Haridwar Transfer: $75
- Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $39
- Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Dehradun Airport: $20
- Affordable transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $39
- Affordable transfer from Dehradun to Delhi: $39
- Affordable Dehradun airport transfer to Rishikesh: $20
- Affordable Dehradun Airport Transfer.: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Haridwar?
Prices for flights to both Haridwar 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
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Food Meals for one dayVaranasi $7.14Haridwar $10
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$4.13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tests of Best Varanasi Local Food Tour With Tourist Guide: $18
- Taste of Varanasi (2 Hour Guided Street Food Tour): $22
- Private Evening Rooftop Dinner: $44
- Cooking Classes in Varanasi for 2 Hours: $50
- Evening Dinner with Private Transfer: $50
- Afternoon tour of Varanasi with Boat ride over Ganges & Dinner on a tuk-tuk : $59
- Night Boat Ride, Aarati Ceremony and Dinner: $62
- Private Evening Street Food Tour: $63
- India: Evening Ganga Aarti With Dinner and Private Transfer: $65
- Private Evening Handicraft Market Tour with Dinner: $71
- Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $100
- Evening Arti Boat Tour with Dinner: $142
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Haridwar
For Haridwar, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sattvic Traditional Cooking Classes, Rishikesh India: $35
- Rishikesh Half Day Street Food Tour: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varanasi $10Haridwar $9.16
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$0.84
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Varanasi Experience 01 Night -02 Days Tour: $85
- 01 Day Private Taj Mahal Tour (Delhi- Agra - Delhi): $140
- 08 Hours : Private - Full Day City Tour Of Delhi : $53
- 08 Hours : Private Full Day City Tour of Jaipur : $120
- 1 Day Ayodhya Tour from Varanasi Airport: $82
- 11 - Hours Agra Tour: Sunrise and Sunset of Taj Mahal from Delhi.: $97
- 12 Days Buddhist Tour From The Birth To Death: $1,439
- 2 Day Private Bodhgaya Tour From Varanasi: $189
- 2 Days & 1 Night Exclusive Tour Package of Varanasi: $224
- 2 Days : Varanasi Private Guided Tour With Airport Pickup: $162
- 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $189
- 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $132
Tours and Activities in Haridwar
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Haridwar.
- Private 3-Day Tour from Dehradun to Mussoorie Hill Station: $277
- Adventure camping at Mussoorie - 1n2d: $39
- Adventure camping at Mussoorie - 2n3d: $71
- Adventure trip in Chakrata : $37
- Caving Tour in Rishikesh - 6 Hrs.: $45
- Day tour Haridwar Rishikesh Ganges: $72
- Discovering Dehradun: A Full Day Guided Tour: $61
- Divine Excursion: Gurudwara & Temple Tour from Dehradun: $61
- Experience Spiritual Culture in Rishikesh with a local - A Unique Walking Tour: $14
- From Delhi: 2-Day Tour of Rishikesh and Haridwar: $337
- From Delhi: Same Day Haridwar Guided Tour: $94
- Guided Food Crawl Tour of Mussoorie with a local: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVaranasi $7.85Haridwar $6.81
When comparing the travel costs between Varanasi and Haridwar, we can see that Haridwar 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 Varanasi Expensive? and Is Haridwar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varanasi or Haridwar?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Haridwar. When comparing the sizes of Varanasi and Haridwar, 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.