Which place is cheaper, Nara or Chennai?
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 Chennai or Nara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Nara? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Chennai or Nara?
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
Nara
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.
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Chennai Prices
India PricesNara Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $32Nara $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $32, while the average daily cost in Nara is $111. 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 Chennai and Nara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Nara $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Nara $108
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Nara
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Nara? 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: Chennai Hotel Prices and Nara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.47Nara $6.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Chennai Airport (MAA) Private Transfer to Chennai City/Hotels: $22
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Chennai Private City and Airport Transfer : $29
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $30
- Private Transfer from Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport: $30
- Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $41
- Private Departure Transfer: Mahabalipuram Hotels to Chennai Airport: $50
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Nara?
Prices for flights to both Nara and Chennai 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 dayChennai $11Nara $51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai with Meena: $54
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local: $76
- Traditional Indian Art, Craft and Cooking Tour: $76
- Traditional Cooking Class in Chennai in a Local Home with Sundari: $78
- Private tour to learn Traditional Indian Art, craft & Cooking: $80
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Private Market Tour and South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai: $152
- Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $200
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
- Handmade Soba and Tempura Cooking Class in Nara: $49
- Udon and Tempura Cooking Class in Nara: $52
- Nara Personalized Half Day Food Tour with a Local Guide: $160
- Taste of Nara A Guided Half Day Food Tour Tailored to Your Taste: $160
- Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.63Nara $8.09
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Agra: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line & Guided Private 3 Hours Tour: $4.51
- Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Tour from Delhi by Car – Fast Entry: $4.51
- Spiritual Stories of Guided Tour through Holy Sites: $13
- Explore Chennai City in Nightlights: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
- Walk and Explore Chennai City: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
- Exploring Chennai Bustling Markets: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
- Chennai Heritage & Cultural Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $14
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $18
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $19
- Magical Markets Guided Walking Tour: $19
- 2 Hour Street Food Walking Tour: $19
Tours and Activities in Nara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
- 2-day Kansai world ExTour I tour around Osaka,Kyoto,Nara,andUji: $221
- All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $45
- First Time Nara Tour UNESCO Sites with Lunch and Deer Feed: $83
- Gripped Sumi Ink Experience at a Historic Workshop in Nara: $23
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour to Nara City: $152
- Japan's Oldest Shrine & Nagashi Somen Walking Tour from Nara: $166
- Kyoto Matcha Green Tea Tour: $221
- Kyoto: Tea Museum and Tsuen Teahouse Guided Tour: $74
- Nara - Craft Beer, Sake & Food Walking Tour: $104
- Nara - Heart of Nature Cross Bike Tour: $290
- Nara - Highlights Bike Tour: $76
- Nara - Private Family Bike Tour: $207
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $2.92Nara $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Nara, we can see that Nara is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Nara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nara than you might in Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chennai Expensive? and Is Nara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Nara?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nara. When comparing the sizes of Chennai and Nara, 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.