Which place is cheaper, Udaipur 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 Udaipur?
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 Udaipur 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 Udaipur?
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.
Udaipur
Udaipur, also known as the "Venice of the East," is becoming increasingly popular as an Indian wedding destination as well as with travelers searching for a romantic and picturesque city, rich with history, scenic areas, and palaces.
The "City of Lakes" is located in south of Rajasthan. There are a total of ten lakes in the lake system, which are connected and sustain water for drinking, irrigation and industrial use, which contributes to another reason for Udaipur's booming tourism: alcohol.
Udaipur has ideal climate and available water to support a liquor plant while a number of other Indian states ban the consumption of liquor altogether. Many local tourists, such as those from the neighboring dry state of Gujarat on the west, visit Udaipur specifically for this reason, especially considering that Gujarati alcohol prices are much higher and liquor must be purchased through the black market. It's no wonder why Udaipur is the destination for celebrations and vacation.
Udaipur has tropical weather and three main seasons, which are summer, monsoon, and winter. Winter, which takes place between September to March, is the most pleasant time to visit for sunny and warm days and cool nights.
Udaipur was also made famous in the James Bond film Octopussy. Several local hotels show the film nightly.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Varanasi Prices
India PricesUdaipur Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVaranasi $33Udaipur $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $33, while the average daily cost in Udaipur is $39. 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 Udaipur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVaranasi $15Udaipur $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVaranasi $30Udaipur $30
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Udaipur
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi or Udaipur? 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 Udaipur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varanasi $4.69Udaipur $6.71
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 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
- Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer: $135
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Udaipur
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Udaipur:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Udaipur
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Udaipur:
- Udaipur, The City of Lakes - A Heritage Walk with private transfers: $105
- Udaipur to Ahmedabad private transfers: $38
- Udaipur in Half Day Sightseeing with guide and transfers: $46
- Udaipur To Pushkar Private One Way Transfer: $60
- Udaipur Hotels to Udaipur Airport drop: Private Transfers: $17
- Udaipur Full Day Custom Tour with Transfers: $85
- Udaipur Airport to Udaipur Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $14
- Udaipur Airport Transfers: $27
- Transfer From Udaipur To Jodhpur With Kumbhalgarh & Ranakpur: $93
- Smooth Departure Transfer by Car from Udaipur to Ahmadabad: $100
- Round Trip Transfers to Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace with tickets: $23
- Private Udaipur City Tour With Jodhpur Transfer Next Day: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Udaipur?
Prices for flights to both Udaipur 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 $12Udaipur $18
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 Udaipur
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Udaipur.
- Cooking class and dinner with Rekha family with full meals: $16
- Durga Cooking Class: $16
- Learn Cooking class + Meals with Spice & Veg Market visits: $28
- Kusum's Cooking lesson : $57
- Jag Mandir Island Dinner with Boat Ride transfers: $104
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varanasi $9.96Udaipur $6.80
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
- Cultural & Spiritual Trails of Old Town Varanasi Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Spiritual and Heritage Walking Tour in Varanasi: $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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Udaipur
Here are a few typical costs in Udaipur for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Palace Entrance Fee$1.14
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Lake Boat Tour$2.27
Tours and Activities in Udaipur
Here are a few actual costs in Udaipur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Explore A Full-Day Private City Tour: $70
- Full Day Udaipur City Tour by Private Vehicle: $86
- Guided Udaipur Tour With Drop Off To Jodhpur Next Day.: $135
- 3 Days Private Udaipur City Tour With Kumbhalgarh Fort & Ranakpur Jain Temple : $125
- 3 Night 4 Days Udaipur And Jodhpur Tour: $135
- 4 Night 5 Days Udaipur And Jodhpur Tour: $155
- 6 Night 7 Days Udaipur,Jodhpur & Jaisalmer Tour From Udaipur : $275
- 7 - Days Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur Tour: $704
- 8-Day Rajasthan Tour: Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer & Jaipur: $263
- A Bicycle Tour of the Countryside Surrounding Udaipur: $246
- Agra: Baby Taj and Mehtab Bagh Sunset Viewpoint Tour: $14
- Chittorgarh Private Day Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVaranasi $7.45Udaipur $8.46
Sample the Local Flavors in Udaipur
Also in Udaipur, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Udaipur: $37
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Udaipur, we can see that Udaipur 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 Udaipur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Udaipur 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 Udaipur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varanasi or Udaipur?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Udaipur. When comparing the sizes of Varanasi and Udaipur, 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.