Which place is cheaper, Ubud or Varanasi?
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 Varanasi or Ubud?
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 Ubud 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 Ubud?
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.
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, and The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia.
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Varanasi Prices
India PricesUbud Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVaranasi $33Ubud $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $33, while the average daily cost in Ubud is $153. 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 Ubud in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVaranasi $15Ubud $128
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVaranasi $30Ubud $256
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Ubud
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi or Ubud? 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 Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varanasi $4.69Ubud $1.75
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.91
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Rickshaw Ride$0.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3-hours Temple hopping with transfers: $35
- Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $34
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $160
- From Agra: One-Way Private Transfer to Varanasi: $166
- Private Car Airport Transfer from Hotel in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram: $55
- Private Departure Transfer from Varanasi Hotel to Airport: $28
- Private Transfer from Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport to Varanasi: $45
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $12
- Varanasi - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $24
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $14
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $23
- Varanasi Hotels to Varanasi Airport drop: Private Transfers: $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- White Water Rafting Ubud with hotel transfers and lunch: $27
- White Water Rafting Ubud Bali With Hotel Transfer: $30
- Waterbom Bali Tickets with Private Transfers: $70
- Waterbom Bali Day Pass with Hotel Transfer: $76
- Water Rafting With Private Transfer And Lunch: $85
- Vip Airport Transfer : $32
- Ayung River Rafting & Jungle Swing Ticket with Transfer: $69
- Ubud to Bali (DPS) Airport Private Transfer: $20
- Ubud White Water Rafting with Private Transfer & Lunch: $33
- Ubud Transfer Service: $31
- Ubud Cultural and Historical Guided Tour with Transfer: $46
- Ubud Countryside Cycling Tour (Included Private Transfer & Lunch): $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Ubud?
Prices for flights to both Ubud 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
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Food Meals for one dayVaranasi $12Ubud $20
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town$3.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tests of Best Varanasi Local Food Tour With Tourist Guide: $17
- 3-hour street food tour: $33
- Cooking Class with Sona: $42
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Ultimate 2 Days in Varanasi - Fully Guided Tour - Rooftop Dinner on Ganges: $121
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Ubud Mystic Dinner at Oracle of Spice Lemuria The Lost City: $17
- Ubud Cooking Class with Optional Market Visit Pickup Included: $20
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Full Day Ubud Waterfall Visit and Cooking Experience: $24
- Dance Show + Dinner at Lost City - Story of Humanity : $24
- Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
- Jimbaran Beach Candle Light Dinner : $26
- Ubud Cooking Class by Lemon Grass Cooking Class: $26
- Balinese Ubud cooking school (9 Dish Cooking and Market Tour) : $26
- 8 Hours Private Balinese Cooking Class with Tirta Empul Temple: $28
- Afternoon Cooking Class & Making Bali Offering with Dinner: $29
- Uluwatu Sunset Trip with Kecak Dance Show and Jimbaran Dinner: $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varanasi $9.96Ubud $9.84
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride$0.79
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra Tour by Gatimaan Express Train: $2.82
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $3.95
- Agra: Taj Mahal Tour with Professional photographer & Guide: $5.64
- Spiritual Tour in Varanasi with a local- Experience true essence of spirituality: $12
- Spiritual and Heritage Walking Tour in Varanasi: $12
- Cultural & Spiritual Trails of Old Town Varanasi Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Temple Walk Tour Varanasi: $12
- Sunrise in Banaras with Ganga Aarti (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Mysticism of Varanasi Tour with a local including free Guided Boat Ride: $18
- Sunrise in Varanasi Tour with a local with free Ganga Aarti and Boat Ride: $18
- Marigold Boat Tour in Varanasi: $19
- Same Day Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Baby Taj Tour from Delhi by Cab: $20
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Balaji Adventure Bali Quad Bike 350cc and Ayung Rafting: $48
- Bali Private 2 Day Island Hopping Tour: $230
- Bali Private tour : $55
- Bali Rafting and ATV Private Tour Adventure: $105
- Bali Royal palaces (observe tour): $120
- Barong Dance and Waterfall tour in Bali: $35
- Best Ubud Tours -All inclusive with private driver: $35
- Best of Ubud Tours with Jungle Swing ( All Inclusive ): $85
- Blue Lagoon Beach Snorkeling Experience in East Bali: $108
- Experience T-Rex Beach in Nusa Penida: $49
- Explore Bali with Private ATV Ride + Tour with VW Car: $80
- Full Day Private Tour from Tegenungan Waterfall to Tanah Lot: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVaranasi $7.45Ubud $6.62
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Ubud, we can see that Ubud 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud than you might in Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Varanasi Expensive? and Is Ubud Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varanasi or Ubud?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Varanasi and Ubud, 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.