Which place is cheaper, Jaisalmer or Dubai?
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 Dubai or Jaisalmer?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Jaisalmer can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Jaisalmer?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United Arab Emirates, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Dubai Prices
UAE PricesJaisalmer Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $289Jaisalmer $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in Jaisalmer is $44. 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 Dubai and Jaisalmer in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Jaisalmer $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Jaisalmer $26
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Jaisalmer
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Jaisalmer? 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Jaisalmer Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Jaisalmer $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Dubai Shopping Tour with Transfer: $300
- BAPS Temple Visit with Private Transfer: $300
- The Dubai Mall Tour with Private Transfers: $299
- Fujairah Dam Tour with Private Transfers : $299
- Al Rafisah Dam Tour near Dubai with Private Transfers : $295
- Dubai Afternoon High Tea in the Iconic Burj Al Arab with Transfer: $295
- XLine Dubai Marina Zipline Ride with Transfers Options: $293
- Dubai Jet Car and Self Drive Tour with Private Transfer: $285
- Xline Dubai Marina Zipline Experience With Transfers Option: $281
- Afternoon High Tea in Burj Al Arab with Transfer: $275
- Dubai Sky High Combo Tour with Private Transfer: $271
- Burj Khalifa The Lounge - Levels 154, 153, 152 with Transfers: $270
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Agra: $181
- Private transfer from Jaisalmer to Bikaner: $120
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jaipur: $117
- Transfer From Jaisalmer To Udaipur Via Ranakpur Jain Temple: $90
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Pushkar: $85
- From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Bikaner: $55
- 2-Night Camel Safari with Meals & Transfers: $55
- Bada Bagh Sunset Tour with Private Transfer: $50
- From Jaisalmer : Transfer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $48
- One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
- One Way Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Transfer: $42
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Jaisalmer?
Prices for flights to both Jaisalmer and Dubai 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 dayDubai $96Jaisalmer $22
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Virtual Online Cooking Class - Cook Your Classic Curry with Chef Gomez: $16
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner at Dubai Al Seef: $17
- Evening Desert Safari Dubai with Camel Ride & BBQ dinner: $18
- Red Dune Desert Safari with Camel Riding Sand Boarding BBQ Dinner: $18
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Dubai Luxury Canal Dinner Cruise with Shows: $18
- Desert Safari With Camel Ride and Dinner: $19
- Vip Red Dune Safari with 4x4 Pick & Drop, Camel Ride, BBQ Dinner: $19
- VIP Red Dune Safari with Pick/Drop, Camel Ride, BBQ Dinner, Shows: $19
- Golden Dune Desert Safari Dubai with Camel Ride & live BBQ Dinner: $19
- Evening Desert Safari Dubai with Camel Riding & BBQ Buffet Dinner: $21
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Jaisalmer Food Tour: Taste the Flavors of the Golden City!: $14
- Jaisalmer Heritage & Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $25
- Camel Trails Sunset Safari with Dinner: $29
- Half day, non touristic sand dune ,camel safari with dinner : $29
- Jodhpur Camel & Jeep Safari with Sunset, Folk Dance, Dinner: $30
- Half-Day Camel Tour with Dinner: $34
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $35
- Dinner on the Dunes & Camel Safari: $36
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Camel Safari Campfire Dinner and Stargazing : $40
- Jeep Safari, Camel Ride, Dinner and Folk Dance: $42
- Half-Day Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Dinner: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Jaisalmer $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Abu Dhabi City Tour Sheikh Zayed Mosque & Heritage: $60
- Abu Dhabi Full Day Private Sightseeing Tour : $200
- Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel Ride Tickets: $63
- Burj Al Arab Tour + Wild Wadi Water Park Tickets Only: $137
- Desert Adventure with ATV and Camel Ride and Live Shows: $100
- Desert Safari, City Tour & Dhow Cruise in Marina Enjoy In Dubai: $110
- Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Explorer Tickets: $95
- Dubai Butterfly Garden Admission Ticket: $42
- Dubai City Sightseeing Tour In A Private Vehicle ( Full-day ) : $299
- Dubai City Tour + Burj Khalifa + Dubai Frame + Desert Safari (one day tour): $271
- Dubai City Tour With English Speaking Guide: $300
- Dubai City Tour- Half-Day : Private Experience with Abra Ride: $125
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sam Sand Dunes for Two$3.41
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- Non_touristic Camel safari : $30
- 1 night 2 days Thar Desert Experience Jaisalmer: $41
- 1-Night and 2-Days Thar Desert Safari Tour: $44
- 2 Days Non-Touristic Overnight Thar Desert Camel Safari Tour: $28
- 2-Night Desert Experience with Luxury Camp from Jaisalmer: $233
- 3 Days Private Jaisalmer Tour: $180
- 4-day Jaisalmer And Jodhpur Combo Tour : $222
- 8 Days Private Tour Colors of Rajasthan from Jaisalmer: $231
- Agra: Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour w/Fatehpur Sikri: $4.50
- An Overnight Non-touristic Camel Safari (2PM to 11:30 AM Next Day): $44
- Best of Jaisalmer (Guided Full Day City Sightseeing Tour by Car): $107
- Best of Day tour of Fort, havelis and Sunset at Lake: $149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Jaisalmer $8.76
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- JBR Walk Historic Pub Crawl with Guide and Drinks: $36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Jaisalmer, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Jaisalmer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Jaisalmer is in Asia, 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 Jaisalmer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaisalmer 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Jaisalmer.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Jaisalmer Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Jaisalmer?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Jaisalmer. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Jaisalmer, 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.