A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Varanasi vs. Paris for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Varanasi or Paris?

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 Paris 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 Paris?

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.

Paris

Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.


Which place is cheaper, Paris or Varanasi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $31, while the average daily cost in Paris is $298. 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 Paris in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Varanasi $14
    Paris $172
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Varanasi $28
    Paris $344
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Paris

Looking for a hotel in Varanasi or Paris? 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 Paris


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 Paris Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Varanasi $4.35
    Paris $24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi

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


  • Tuk Tuk Through Town
    $0.84
  • Rickshaw Ride
    $0.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi

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

  • Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer: $135
  • Private Transfer Varanasi to Bodhgaya - One Way: $98
  • Sunrise Boat Tour and Heritage Walk with transfers: $79
  • Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including transfers: $77
  • Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including Hotel transfers: $70
  • Airport Pickup/Drop Transfer Service: $53
  • Private Transfer from Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport to Varanasi: $43
  • Private Departure Transfer from Varanasi Hotel to Airport: $28
  • Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $21
  • Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $13
  • Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $12
  • Varanasi Hotels to Varanasi Airport drop: Private Transfers: $11

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:


  • Metro
    $7.19
  • Train from Airport
    $10
  • Metro tickets
    $7.64
  • Train
    $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris

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

  • transfer from CDG/ORLY airport to Paris ,multilingual driver: $51
  • roundtrip transfer to Disneyland from airports: $137
  • VIP Private Shuttle in Van de Luxe | Paris Airport Transfers: $91
  • VERSAILLES CASTLE Private Round-Trip Transfer from Paris in Van: $190
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Paris APT-HTL (CDG): $185
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Orly HTL-APT (ORY): $119
  • Transfert Paris Charles de Gaulle Disneyland Paris: $137
  • Transfers from Paris to Parc Disneyland paris: $69
  • Transfers between Paris, CDG, Orly, Disneyland & Versaille by van: $80
  • Transfers between Paris and Paris Disneyland Versaille Airports: $177
  • Transfers between Paris and Paris Airports/Disneyland/Versailles: $120
  • Transfers Private: Paris-Aéroports/Paris-Disneyland, France: $113

Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Paris?

Prices for flights to both Paris 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 $11
    Paris $81
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi

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


  • Dinner In Town
    $3.63

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: $14
  • Cooking Class with Sona: $29
  • Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $29
  • Ganga Aarti with Street Food Tour of Varanasi: $40
  • Half-Day Varanasi Village Tour with Cooking Class & Local Dining: $40
  • Varanasi Cooking Classes with Shobha: $40
  • Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
  • Traditional Indian Cooking Class with Dinner: $42
  • Private Street Food Tour with 8+ Tastings & Pickup: $44
  • Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $44
  • Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $50
  • Dashashwamedh Ganga Arati from balcony with Street Food Tour: $50

Typical Food Prices in Paris

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:


  • Ice Cream
    $8.98
  • Breakfast
    $7.86
  • Breakfast for 2
    $33
  • Dinner on River Cruise
    $97
  • Dinner
    $64
  • Cheese
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris

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

  • Paris Marais Walking Food Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $11
  • Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $65
  • Paris Seine River dinner cruise from Alexandre III bridge: $67
  • Seine River Cruise and Dinner at Traditional Parisian Restaurant: $73
  • Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $74
  • Paris Vegan Street Food Tour: $74
  • Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris: $74
  • Paris Food Tour: $79
  • Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien: $82
  • Sightseeing 3 course Dinner Cruise on Seine River from Paris: $85
  • Paris Le Marais Food Tour – Full French Meal by Do Eat Better: $86
  • Paris Guided Food Tour by Bike - Ile de la Cité and Marais: $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Varanasi $9.24
    Paris $86
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi

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


  • Boat Ride
    $0.74

Tours and Activities in Varanasi

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

  • 03 Day Spiritual Tour: Kashi Vishwanath,Ganga Aarti Sarnath”: $270
  • 08 Hours : Private - Full Day City Tour Of Delhi: $53
  • 08 Hours : Private Full Day City Tour of Jaipur: $90
  • 2 Day Private Bodhgaya Tour From Varanasi: $189
  • 2 Day Varanasi Day Tour with Boating and English Speaking Guide: $300
  • 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $180
  • 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $189
  • 2 Days Varanasi City Tour with Evening Aarti and Boat Ride: $100
  • 2 Days Varanasi tour package for first timers: $135
  • 2 Night 3 Days Spiritual Varanasi with Cruise Ride: $233
  • 2-Day Varanasi Experience – Temples, Ghats & Ganga Aarti: $140
  • 2-Day Varanasi Heritage & Tradition Guided Tour: $156

Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris

For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Louvre Entry for Two
    $20
  • Admission to Pantheon
    $5.62
  • Catacombs (2)
    $26

Tours and Activities in Paris

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.

  • Île de la Cité Guided Tour & Audio-Guided Visit of Notre-Dame: $22
  • Île de la Cité Guided Tour & Exterior Notre Dame: $56
  • Île de la Cité Private 2h Tour with Latin Quarter & Seine River: $195
  • 1 Day Paris City Tour on River & Land with Louvre Museum ticket: $136
  • 1 Hour Express Paris Tour with Scenic Stops: $170
  • 1 Hour Private Photo Session experience with the Eiffel Tower: $108
  • 1-Hour Seine River Cruise Ticket from Eiffel Tower: $21
  • 1.5 Hour Private Tour in Paris in a Classic Citroën: $284
  • 1.5-hour cruise on the Seine departing at 6:30 PM: $21
  • 1H Orsay Museum Express Small Group Guided Tour: $103
  • 1h30 Private Guided Tour in a Pink Citroën 2CV: $113
  • 1st Day in Paris Discovery Private Tour: 'How-to' Orientation & Sightseeing Fun!: $79

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Varanasi $6.91
    Paris $27

Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:


  • Wine
    $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Paris

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:

  • Paris Pub Crawl : Bars with Club Entry and Shots: $17
  • The Original Pub Crawl + Free Shots + VIP Club Entry: $17
  • Social Pub Crawl – Come Alone, Leave With Friends: $19
  • Paris International Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Fun Games: $29
  • Paris Montmartre Cheese Charcuterie Wine Tasting with Audio Tour: $29
  • Visit and tasting at the distillery L'Alambic Parisien: $32
  • Paris Gin Craft Distillery Tour and Tasting: $34
  • Vineyard tour and wine tasting in Davron: $40
  • Guided Tour of Montmartre with Cheese and Wine Tasting: $41
  • A burlesque cabaret in an old brothel: $42
  • Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise & l'Atelier des lumières: $51
  • Vegan Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise: $51


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Paris, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Varanasi is in Asia and Paris is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Varanasi or Paris?

Paris has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Varanasi. When comparing the sizes of Varanasi and Paris, 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.