Travel Budget for Dharamsala Visit Dharamsala on a Budget or Travel in Style

Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India

How much does it cost to travel to Dharamsala?

You should plan to spend around $35 (₨2,956) per day on your vacation in Dharamsala. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $8.34 (₨697) on meals
  • $5.13 (₨429) on local transportation
  • $46 (₨3,857) on hotels

A one week trip to Dharamsala for two people costs, on average, $495 (₨41,386). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $35
    2,956
  • One Week Per person
    $248
    20,693
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $495
    41,386
  • One Month Per person
    $1,061
    88,684
  • One Week For a couple
    $495
    41,386
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $990
    82,772
  • One Month For a couple
    $2,122
    177,369
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Dharamsala cost?

A one week trip to Dharamsala usually costs around $248 (₨20,693) for one person and $495 (₨41,386) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Dharamsala on average costs around $495 (₨41,386) for one person and $990 (₨82,772) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Dharamsala will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Dharamsala on average costs around $1,061 (₨88,684) for one person and $2,122 (₨177,369) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Dharamsala has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Dharamsala expensive to visit?

Dharamsala is a very affordable place to visit. Located in India, which is a very affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Dharamsala in depth.

Within Asia, Dharamsala is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Luang Prabang, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Taipei.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Dharamsala Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Dharamsala?

The average Dharamsala trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Dharamsala travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) 3,857 ($46)
Local Transportation 1 429 ($5)
Food 2 697 ($8)
Entertainment 1 464 ($6)
Alcohol 2 232 - 696 ($3 - 8)
Accommodation Budget in Dharamsala
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Dharamsala is $23 (₨1,929). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Dharamsala is $46 (₨3,857). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $23
    1,929
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $46
    3,857

Hotel Prices in Dharamsala

Looking for a hotel in Dharamsala? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Dharamsala based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $37. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Dharamsala
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Dharamsala is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.13 (₨429) per person, per day, on local transportation in Dharamsala.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $5.13
    429

Recommended Services


Flights to Dharamsala
How much does it cost to go to Dharamsala? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Dharamsala
The price of renting a car in Dharamsala will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Dharamsala
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Dharamsala can vary, the average cost of food in Dharamsala is $8.34 (₨697) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Dharamsala should cost around $3.34 (₨279) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Dharamsala is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $8.34
    697

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Dharamsala
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Dharamsala typically cost an average of $5.55 (₨464) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $5.55
    464

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Dharamsala
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $5.55 (₨464) on alcoholic beverages in Dharamsala per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $5.55
    464


Dharamsala On a Budget
Dharamsala Dharamsala, India
With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.
Sights
The monastery of the Dalai Lama, Tsuglagkhang Complex, is the largest Tibetan temple outside of Tibet. The complex has a large meditation hall with a number of beautiful statues and thangkas, as well as a Kalachakra temple with stunning murals of intricate design. The Tibet Museum is another place significant to Tibetan culture with a display on the history of Tibet and its people. The Tibetan Library, near the Tibetan Government in Exile, also has a small museum, while the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts occasionally holds performances of traditional Tibetan dance, music, and theatre.

As far as natural scenery goes, Dharamsala is situated amidst the Himalayan region of northern India. The mountainous terrain makes for stunning landscapes at every turn. Triund Hill, for example, just beyond Dharamkot, provides a beautiful view of the peaks of the Himalayas and a vast view over the plains as well. Bhagsu Waterfall and Dal Lake are also significant natural attractions of the region, amongst others.
Neighborhoods
The town is divided into two areas, separated by about 9 kilometers. Lower Dharamsala consists of mostly of the government offices, schools, hospital, and commercial areas. Aside from a few tea gardens and the bus station, it is usually of little interest to tourists. Upper Dharamsala, known more commonly as McLeod Ganj (after Sir Donald Friell McLeod, a British Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab), is home to the Tibetan community and is the center of tourist activity. Bhagsu is another quiet urban area just 2 kilometers northeast with shops, restaurants, and a public pool. Dharamkot, about 3.5 kilometers north uphill, also has a number of restaurants and hostels. Divided into lower and upper Dharamkot, lower Dharamkot is similar to a smaller Bhagsu while upper Dharamkot is nestled in the woods for a quiet escape close to backpacking trails.

Activities
Trekking, walking, or backpacking are probably some of the most sought out activities of the region with hikes to some of the natural landmarks mentioned above - Triund Hill, Bhagsu waterfall, Dal Lake, and also Indrahar pass trek which meanders through the snowbound Dhauladhar Range in the Kangra valley and ends at Lamu. Many others also come to Dharamsala to meet, or at least see, the Dalai Lama. To meet "His Holiness" is a spiritual experience for Buddhists and memorable to all who respect the religion. It is not always easy to have this chance as the Dalai Lama travels frequently and private audiences are carefully chosen (applicants must supply detailed information about themselves and why they wish to see "His Holiness"). He does give scheduled public teachings, though they are often crowded.

Other activities in the immediate area include yoga, meditation, healing practices, paragliding, cooking classes, and thangka painting lessons.
Food and Dining
Cuisine in and around Dharamsala consists largely of chicken and mutton with vegetables which include pumpkins, potatoes, beans, and beetroots. Some staple meals of the region include thukpa (noodle soup usually with chicken and vegetables), skyu (thumb-sized pieces of kneaded dough cooked in a kind of soup), and momos (dumplings). Other specialties comprise of khambir (a whole wheat local bread baked into a pan shape), butter tea (salty tea churned with butter), and chang (a light local brew of beer). These dishes are common throughout the mountainous regions of the Himalayas. Momos are a popular street food, served in stalls by the Temple complex steamed or fried and stuffed with spiced potato, cabbage, spinach, radish, or carrot with chili sauce on the side. Any of the noodle dishes are also staples. Being a popular destination for visitors, McLeod Ganj is a great place for dining options - from cheap Punjabi dhabbas (roadside restaurants) to mid-range Tibetan and Western establishments.

Transportation
By plane, the nearest airport is Gaggal Airport located about 15 kilometers away. Daily flights are available from New Delhi by air liners Spice Jet & Air India. Best prices are available if tickets are booked a few months in advance.

By train, the nearest railhead is at Pathankot (Punjab,) around 90 kilometers away from Dharamsala. From here, a bus will take about 4 hours.

Many people come to Dharamsala by bus, with the main bus terminal in Lower Dharamsala.

Taxis from Pathankot or Delhi are also available.


Related:

Looking for a hostel in Delhi or Goa? Heading to Kathmandu or want a party in Tel Aviv?

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.