India on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
India is one of the best countries in the world for budget travel: allow about ₹3,800 per person per day, with about ₹1,200 for a shared room, ₹800 for food, ₹800 for monuments and ₹1,000 for transport. Using trains instead of flights and drivers brings that down further.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₹1,200 | ₹3,500 | ₹12,000 |
| Food & drink | ₹800 | ₹2,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₹800 | ₹1,500 | ₹3,000 |
| Local transport | ₹1,000 | ₹2,500 | ₹6,000 |
| Per person, per day | ₹3,800 | ₹9,500 | ₹26,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our India day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Jama Masjid in Old Delhi (free entry; a camera fee applies).
- The free communal meal (langar) at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi.
- Walk past India Gate and Kartavya Path in the evening.
- Lodhi Garden, among 15th-century tombs.
- The Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, watched from the steps.
- Gangaur Ghat on Lake Pichola in Udaipur at dusk.
Cheap eats
- Chai from a street stall: ₹10-30.
- Kebabs and mutton korma at Karim's near Jama Masjid: about ₹400-700 per person.
- Rajasthani thali in Jaipur: about ₹400-800.
- Kachori sabzi and sweets in Varanasi's old city: under ₹100.
- Lassi at Lassiwala in Jaipur or Blue Lassi in Varanasi: about ₹60-150.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Paharganj near New Delhi station, Taj Ganj near the Taj gates in Agra, guesthouses on the Varanasi ghats and old-city guesthouses in Jaipur and Udaipur. Expect about ₹1,500-3,000 for a simple double, less for a hostel dorm.
Getting around cheaply
Trains are the cheapest comfortable option between cities; book on IRCTC. In Delhi, the Metro (₹10-60) and the Airport Express line reach the centre from Indira Gandhi Airport cheaply; elsewhere, use Uber, Ola or prepaid airport taxis. Agree auto-rickshaw fares before you set off.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Jama Masjid (free) and a cycle rickshaw through Chandni Chowk (about ₹100-200).
- Lunch: kebabs at Karim's (about ₹500).
- Afternoon: Red Fort (about ₹600) by Metro (about ₹30).
- Evening: langar at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (free) and India Gate, with a budget room in Paharganj.
- Total: about ₹3,800
More ways to save
- Take sleeper or AC-3 trains on long routes to save a night's accommodation.
- Eat where Indian families eat; menus in English and rooftop views mean higher prices.
- Carry small notes for tips, rickshaws and snacks.
- Visit monuments at opening to avoid paid guides who approach later in the day, and hire only licensed ones.
- Travel in shoulder months (October or March) for good weather with lower prices than December and January.
- Learn to say no to shop commissions: decline drivers' detours to 'factory' shops.
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Common questions
Is India good for backpackers?
Yes, it is one of the cheapest and most rewarding countries for backpacking, with trains, guesthouses and street food all inexpensive.
How do I book trains?
On the official IRCTC website or app, up to 60 days ahead; foreign cards are sometimes refused, so ask your hotel or use a reliable app if needed.
Do foreigners pay more at monuments?
Yes. Major sites charge foreigners about ₹500-1,100 compared with a small fee for Indian citizens.