Which place is cheaper, Kyoto or Darjiling?
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 Darjiling or Kyoto?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Kyoto? 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: Darjiling or Kyoto?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
Kyoto
Kyoto is a larger city of Japan, though it is very much set in the old ways. With quiet temples, sublime gardens, colorful shrines, and geisha walking amidst a city surrounded by stunning mountains, Kyoto feels like a world of another time and place. True to ancient Japanese tradition, most aspects of daily life are tied closely with the changing of the seasons.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.
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Darjiling Prices
India PricesKyoto Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $43Kyoto $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $43, while the average daily cost in Kyoto is $118. 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 Darjiling and Kyoto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $12Kyoto $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $24Kyoto $132
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Kyoto
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Kyoto? 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Kyoto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.10Kyoto $7.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $69
- Private Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kyoto
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kyoto:
- Minivan Departure Transfer from Kyoto City to Kansai Airport KIX: $260
- Private Transfer from Maizuru Port to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX): $226
- Private Transfer from Maizuru Cruise Port to Osaka Airport (ITM): $155
- Kyoto Gion & Fushimi E-Bike Tour with Hotel Transfer: $132
- Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Kansai International airport: $115
- Shared Departure Transfer: Kyoto City to Osaka Itami Airport: $108
- Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Osaka Itami International airport: $83
- Naruto & Boruto at Nijigen no Mori Entry & Transfer: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Kyoto?
Prices for flights to both Kyoto and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $23Kyoto $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kyoto
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kyoto.
- Kyoto Nishiki Market & Depachika: 2-hours Food Tour with a Local: $48
- Private Cooking Class Udon in Kyoto Japan: $55
- 1 hour Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki cooking class in Kyoto: $61
- Izakaya Style Cooking Class: $75
- Bento Box Cooking Class: $75
- Ramen Bowl Painting & Cooking in Gion, Kyoto: $76
- Japanese Cuisine Cooking Class in Kyoto: $76
- Kyoto Ramen Bowl Painting and Michelin Cooking Class: $76
- Nishiki Market Walking Food Tour with Local guide: $83
- Private Japanese Home Cooking Class in Kyoto with Michiyo: $86
- Japanese 'Bento' cooking class in Kyoto: $89
- Experience 'IZAKAYA' food cooking class in Kyoto: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $11Kyoto $13
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $23
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $23
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $29
- Mirik Lake Day Tour From Darjeeling: $35
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $52
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $61
- Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $77
- Private Calcutta Tour With Guide and Authentic Bengali lunch: $83
- Mirik Lake Day tour: $85
- The Land Mark Tour (Nautical Day Darjeeling To Mirik crusade): $99
Tours and Activities in Kyoto
Here are a few actual costs in Kyoto for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kyoto Private Full-day Walking Tour from Kyoto Station: $160
- Kyoto Private Tour with National Licensed Guide : $240
- Kyoto Sake Tasting Shared Tour Experience: $59
- Osaka Kyoto Experience Japanese Homogi: $139
- Quick Kyoto Tour for the First-Timers by Local Tour Guide: $60
- 1 Day Kyoto Tour with a Local Guide: $153
- 10 Hrs Full day Kyoto Tour w/Hotel Pick-up: $629
- 10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour (up to 7 people): $188
- 160 Years Authentic Seated Archery Experience in Kyoto: $103
- 2 Hour Night Walking Tour Throughout Gion with snack: $35
- 3 Hour Vegan Walking Tour with Lunch: $139
- 3 Hours Kyoto Insider Sake Experience: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.32Kyoto $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Kyoto
Also in Kyoto, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Kyoto Local Bar Crawl in Kawaramachi Area: $42
- Kyoto Bar Crawl with Local Guide: $65
- Kyoto Kyo-Yuzen Craft Workshop Day Tour and Sake Brewery Visit : $141
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Kyoto, we can see that Kyoto is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Kyoto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kyoto than you might in Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Kyoto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Kyoto?
Kyoto has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Kyoto, 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.