Which place is cheaper, Odisha (Orissa) or Varanasi?
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 Varanasi or Odisha (Orissa)?
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 Odisha (Orissa) 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 Odisha (Orissa)?
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.
Odisha (Orissa)
Formerly known as Orissa, Odisha is a state in eastern India located on the Bay of Bengal. It is best known for its many ancient Hindu temples and tribal cultures, as well as being a destination for beaches and eco-tourism due to its abundant greenery and wildlife.
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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Varanasi Prices
India PricesOdisha (Orissa) Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVaranasi $33Odisha (Orissa) $1,050
The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $33, while the average daily cost in Odisha (Orissa) is $1,050. 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 Odisha (Orissa) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVaranasi $15Odisha (Orissa) $472
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVaranasi $30Odisha (Orissa) $944
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Odisha (Orissa)
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi or Odisha (Orissa)? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varanasi $4.69Odisha (Orissa) $83
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$0.91
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Rickshaw Ride$0.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Pickup/Drop Transfer Service: $57
- Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer: $135
- Varanasi Hotels to Varanasi Airport drop: Private Transfers: $23
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $8.53
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $23
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $14
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $11
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $11
- Varanasi - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $24
- Private Varanasi Heritage Walk with Hotel Transfer: $45
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer from Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport to Varanasi: $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Odisha (Orissa)
Also for Odisha (Orissa), here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Biju Patnaik (BBI) Airport to Bhubaneswar: $40
- Private Transfer from Bhubaneswar to Biju Patnaik (BBI) Airport: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Odisha (Orissa)?
Prices for flights to both Odisha (Orissa) 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 $12Odisha (Orissa) $388
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$3.92
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: Highlights Tour with Tasting &Sunset in Varanasi: $15
- Tests of Best Varanasi Local Food Tour With Tourist Guide: $17
- Varanasi Food Tour with Monu: $22
- Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $28
- 3-hour street food tour: $33
- 3-hour street food tour: $33
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $40
- Yoga, Ayurveda, and Cooking Class with Boat Ride: $41
- Cooking Class with Sona: $42
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $44
- Evening Dinner with Private Transfer: $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varanasi $9.96Odisha (Orissa) $467
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$0.79
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
- 03 Day Spiritual Tour: Kashi Vishwanath,Ganga Aarti Sarnath”: $289
- 08 Hours : Private Full Day City Tour of Jaipur : $90
- 1 Day Ayodhya Tour from Varanasi: $85
- 11 - Hours Agra Tour: Sunrise and Sunset of Taj Mahal from Delhi.: $100
- 2 Day Private Bodhgaya Tour From Varanasi: $189
- 2 Day Private Mystical Varanasi Tour: $46
- 2 Day Varanasi Day Tour with Boating and English Speaking Guide: $300
- 2 Days Varanasi tour package for first timers: $150
- 2 Night 3 Days Spiritual Varanasi with Cruise Ride: $250
- 2-Day Experience Sunrise Boat Ride & Evening Aarti: $341
- 3 Day Varanasi Ganga Aarti Tour with Sarnath Buddhist Temple: $223
Tours and Activities in Odisha (Orissa)
For Odisha (Orissa), here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4 Days Private Tour in Bhubaneswar and Puri Konark: $201
- 6-hour Temples tour of Bhubaneswar including hotel pick-up & drop-off: $63
- 8-hours Full Day Tour of Bhubaneswar including Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off: $78
- All Inclusive Saranda Forest 4 Days Tour From Bhubaneswar: $250
- Best of Bhubaneswar (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $77
- Bhubaneshwar city tour in a private car with professional guide: $120
- Bhubaneswar city tour & Konark Sun Temple in private car with guide: $140
- Bhubaneswar: 3-hour Day Tour to Udayagiri-Khandagiri and Dhaula Hills : $66
- Day Trip to Konark (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Bhubaneswar): $139
- Day Trip to Puri (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Bhubaneswar): $143
- Discover Dhauli Shanti Stupa Bhubaneswar(Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $77
- Experience Beach Camping : $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVaranasi $7.45Odisha (Orissa) $80
Sample the Local Flavors in Odisha (Orissa)
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Odisha (Orissa):
- Pub Crawl Bhubaneswar: $37
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Odisha (Orissa), we can see that Odisha (Orissa) 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 Odisha (Orissa) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Odisha (Orissa) than you might in Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Varanasi Expensive? and Is Odisha (Orissa) Expensive?.
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.