India is a vast and diverse South Asian nation offering ancient temples, vibrant cities, pristine beaches, and the majestic Himalayas. From the iconic Taj Mahal to spiritual Varanasi and tropical Kerala backwaters, India delivers unforgettable experiences across its 28 states and 8 union territories.
Local currency: Indian Rupee (INR, ₹). Approximately 83-85 INR per 1 USD (check current rate before travel).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in India.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $8-15 (dorm bed in budget hostel or dharamshala)
- Budget
- $20-40 (budget guesthouse or 2-star hotel)
- Midrange
- $50-100 (3-star hotel or boutique property)
- Luxury
- $150-500+ (heritage hotel, palace, 5-star)
Food
- Street
- $1-3 (chai, samosa, vada pav, plate of chaat)
- Local
- $4-10 (thali at local dhaba, biryani, full meal)
- Midrange
- $15-30 (restaurant meal with drinks)
- Fine
- $50-150+ (fine dining, tasting menu)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.20-0.80 (local city bus or metro ride)
- Taxi
- $2-8 (Uber/Ola city ride)
- Airport
- $6-20 (airport to city center depending on city)
- Daytrip
- $15-40 (day trip by train or bus to nearby town)
Activities
- Museum
- $2-5 (most Indian national museums)
- Sites
- $5-15 (ASI monuments, Taj Mahal foreigners fee $15)
- Tour
- $15-40 (guided walking or heritage tour)
- Excursion
- $40-100 (tiger safari, full-day guided excursion)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to India costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$175-280/week (hostel beds, street food, local transport, free attractions)
Midrange traveller
$420-700/week (private rooms, restaurant meals, Uber, paid attractions)
Luxury traveller
$1400-3500+/week (palace hotels, fine dining, private transport, exclusive experiences)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy an Indian Railways e-ticket through IRCTC app for intercity travel — book Sleeper Class for 10x savings over AC classes with the same scenery
Eat at local dhabas and South Indian vegetarian restaurants where a complete thali costs $2-4 versus $15-30 at tourist restaurants
Use Ola/Uber Auto (auto-rickshaw via app) for city transport — far cheaper than air-conditioned cabs with metered pricing
Visit UNESCO sites on the first Sunday of the month when ASI monuments are free for all Indian nationals (foreigners pay except at select sites)
Book accommodation directly with smaller guesthouses and negotiate monthly rates for stays over a week — significant discounts available
Buy SIM card and data plan on arrival — Jio offers unlimited data plans from $5/month making local navigation and communication extremely cheap
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar
The spectacular nightly fire ceremony on the Ganges riverbank at Haridwar draws thousands of pilgrims and visitors at sunset, featuring priests swinging oil lamps in synchronized rituals with devotional music. Free and open to all.
India Gate and Rajpath, New Delhi
The 42-meter war memorial arch and the grand ceremonial boulevard connecting it to Rashtrapati Bhavan are free to visit any time. Evenings when families picnic on the lawns are particularly atmospheric.
Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), Amritsar
The spiritual heart of Sikhism welcomes visitors of all faiths free of charge 24 hours a day. The shimmering gold structure reflecting in the sacred pool, continuous devotional music, and free community kitchen (langar) serving 100,000 meals daily make this India's most visited site.
Humayun's Tomb Gardens, Delhi
The symmetrical Mughal garden complex surrounding Humayun's Tomb is accessible freely to stroll through; the main tomb charges entry but the gardens offer beautiful views at no cost.
Marine Drive, Mumbai
Mumbai's iconic 3.6km curved seafront promenade — the Queen's Necklace when viewed lit up at night — is free to walk any time. The sunset viewing from Queen's Necklace is one of India's great free spectacles.
Lodi Garden, New Delhi
A peaceful 90-acre park containing 15th-century Sayyid and Lodi dynasty tombs set among manicured lawns and trees. A free escape from Delhi's chaos popular with morning joggers, birdwatchers, and picnicking families.
Chandni Chowk Market Exploration
Simply walking the historic lanes of Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk market — the spice lanes, silver market, textile bazaars, and religious alleys — is a free and endlessly fascinating cultural experience.
Gateway of India, Mumbai
The iconic 26-meter triumphal arch on Mumbai's waterfront is free to visit. The surrounding Colaba area, waterfront activity, and views back across Mumbai Harbour from the water's edge make for free hours of engagement.