Should you visit Varanasi or Pune?
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 Pune 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 Pune?
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.
Pune
Located in Maharashtra, Pune is the state's second largest city and cultural capital. Not only is it a hub for museums, temples, beaches, and scenic overlooks, but it also has a thriving nightlife and general atmosphere due to the student population.
Which place is cheaper, Pune 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 Pune is $52. 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 Pune in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi or Pune? 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
Pune Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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:
-
Private Airport Transfer:
$8.46
-
Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer:
$135
-
Varanasi Airport Transfer:
$14
-
Spiritual Varanasi - A Most Amazing Heritage Walk with Private Transfer:
$70
-
Smooth transfer from Varanasi Airport to Hotel:
$28
-
Private Varanasi Heritage Walk with Hotel Transfer:
$28
-
Private Transfer: Varanasi Station to Hotel:
$13
-
Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel:
$15
-
Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport (VNS) to Varanasi Hotel:
$47
-
Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport (VNS) to Varanasi Hotel:
$48
-
Private Transfer from Varanasi to Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport:
$47
-
Private Transfer Varanasi to Bodhgaya - One Way:
$127
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pune
Also for Pune, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Pune Airport Transfer in Private Vehicle:
$50
-
Private Transfer from Pune to your Accommodation in Mumbai:
$29
-
Private Transfer from Pune to Shirdi:
$44
-
Private Transfer from Pune to Nashik:
$47
-
Private Transfer from Pune City to Pune (PNQ) Airport:
$42
-
Private Transfer from Pune (PNQ) Airport to Pune City:
$42
-
Private Pune Airport - Pune City Round-Trip Transfer:
$47
-
Private One way Transfer from Pune Airport to Pune Hotel:
$12
-
Private Departure Transfer from Pune City to Pune Airport:
$23
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Pune Airport to Pune City:
$23
-
One way transfer-Pune to Nashik:
$40
-
One way transfer- Pune to Shirdi:
$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Pune?
Prices for flights to both Pune 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
Pune $18
Typical Food prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pune
For Pune, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family:
$56
-
Traditional Mangalorean or Maharashtrian cooking class in Pune:
$72
-
Market Visit and Cooking Class in Pune:
$344
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
01 Day Private Taj Mahal Tour (Delhi- Agra - Delhi):
$94
-
08 Hours : Private - Full Day City Tour Of Delhi:
$50
-
08 Hours : Private Full Day City Tour of Jaipur:
$50
-
11 - Hours Agra Tour: Sunrise and Sunset of Taj Mahal from Delhi.:
$91
-
2 Day Private Bodhgaya Tour From Varanasi:
$189
-
2 Days Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi:
$170
-
2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi:
$189
-
2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi:
$180
-
2 Days Varanasi Tour:
$149
-
2 Days Varanasi Tour With Sarnath:
$331
-
2 Days Varanasi private tour:
$133
-
2 Days Varanasi tour package for first timers:
$148
Tours and Activities in Pune
For Pune, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
1 day private tour of tajmahal from pune including air tickets, car, entrances:
$443
-
2 day trip to Agra from Pune with air tickets:
$1,037
-
2 day trip to Agra from Pune without air tickets:
$488
-
2-Day Tour to The Taj Mahal and Agra from Pune with Commercial Return Flights:
$564
-
3-Day Tour to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur from Pune with one-way Commercial Flight:
$636
-
3-Day Tour to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur from Pune with one-way Commercial Flight:
$632
-
4-Hour Tour: Pune University Complex Cycling Private Tour:
$125
-
4-Hour Tour: Small-Group Culinary Walking Tour in Pune:
$108
-
Admission Ticket to Imagica Theme Park with Transportation:
$76
-
Adventure tours throughout Pune city !:
$204
-
Agra Taj Tour from Pune:
$292
-
Ajanta & Ellora Cave 2 day Guided Tour from Pune:
$335
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Pune
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Pune:
-
Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour):
$25
-
Pune Pub Crawl:
$28
-
Pune Pub Crawl:
$40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Pune, we can see that Pune 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 Pune would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pune than you might in Varanasi.
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