Mumbai on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: Mumbai works on a budget of about ₹3,600 per person per day (bed ₹2,000, food ₹800, sights ₹500, transport ₹300), mostly because street food and trains are so cheap. Rooms are the hardest part to keep cheap.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₹2,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹14,000 |
| Food & drink | ₹800 | ₹2,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₹500 | ₹1,500 | ₹3,500 |
| Local transport | ₹300 | ₹800 | ₹2,000 |
| Per person, per day | ₹3,600 | ₹9,300 | ₹24,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Mumbai day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace hotel facade
- CSMT station seen from the street at 9:00 as commuters pass through
- The Fort district's Gothic buildings, the Rajabai Clock Tower and the Oval Maidan
- Walking Marine Drive, the Queen's Necklace, to Girgaon Chowpatty
- Haji Ali Dargah on its islet (dress modestly)
- Banganga Tank on Malabar Hill and street art on Chapel Road in Bandra
Cheap eats
- Vada pav from a station stall, about ₹20–50
- Pav bhaji at Girgaum Chowpatty, about ₹120–250
- Bhel puri or sev puri at the beach, about ₹60–120
- Irani café bun maska and chai, about ₹50–250 per item
- Kebab rolls behind the Taj or on Mohammed Ali Road, about ₹100–400
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in simple guesthouses in Colaba's back streets, near the Gateway and Causeway, at about ₹3,000–5,000 a double (so roughly ₹1,500–2,500 each when sharing). A few hostels in Colaba, Fort and Bandra have dorm beds for less.
Getting around cheaply
Local trains are the cheapest way to travel north–south (Churchgate to Bandra about ₹10 in second class), plus Metro Line 3 between the Fort area and the airport. In south Mumbai, metered taxis cost ₹100–300 a ride; app taxis are similar.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Gateway of India (free), ferry to Elephanta (about ₹250–300 return, entry about ₹600)
- Lunch: Vada pav and chai, about ₹100
- Afternoon: Colaba Causeway and Kala Ghoda (free)
- Evening: Marine Drive walk and pav bhaji at Chowpatty, about ₹200, taxi back about ₹200
- Total: about ₹3,600 including a shared guesthouse room
More ways to save
- Travel outside rush hours to make the local trains comfortable.
- Eat where queues are long and food is cooked hot; it is both cheap and safest.
- Take a budget food walk with a local operator to try many dishes for little money.
- Visit free sights like the Fort buildings and Marine Drive in the cooler early morning or evening.
- Carry small notes for stalls and taxis.
- Book hotels early for November to February, when cheap rooms fill quickly.
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Common questions
Can you visit Mumbai on a budget?
Yes: about ₹3,600 a day per person, with street food, local trains and free sights.
What is the cheapest way from the airport?
Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) to the Fort area, or the suburban trains from nearby stations; taxis take 1–1.5 hours to Colaba.
Are the local trains safe for tourists?
Yes outside rush hours. Keep belongings close and stay away from the open doors.