Is India expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
No. India is one of the best-value countries in the world: a budget day costs about ₹3,800 per person and a comfortable mid-range day about ₹9,500, including foreigner monument fees and some domestic flights. Food, trains and guesthouses are very cheap; the expensive parts are heritage and palace hotels, private drivers and the higher entry fees foreigners pay at major monuments.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| 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.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Cup of chai from a stall | ₹10-30 |
| Rajasthani thali in Jaipur | ₹400-800 |
| Delhi Metro ride | ₹10-60 |
| Red Fort or Humayun's Tomb (foreigners) | about ₹600 |
| Taj Mahal (foreigners) + main mausoleum | about ₹1,100 + ₹200 |
| Gatimaan or Vande Bharat, Delhi–Agra | ₹800-1,600 |
| Sunrise boat on the Ganges, Varanasi | ₹500-1,000 per boat |
| Heritage haveli double in Jaipur or Udaipur | ₹4,000-8,000 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation varies hugely: simple guesthouses in Paharganj or Taj Ganj cost ₹1,500-3,000 a double, heritage havelis ₹4,000-8,000 and palace hotels ₹15,000-50,000, with GST of 5-18% added depending on the rate. The second big item is getting around a large country: domestic flights for the long legs, fast trains and, if you choose, a private car and driver. Monuments charge foreigners much more than Indians (about ₹500-1,100 each at the big sites), while food remains very cheap.
When it is cheaper
Hotels are usually cheapest from April to September, in the hot season and the monsoon, often 20-40% below the October-March peak; the Christmas-New Year fortnight and the Diwali period are the most expensive.
How to spend less
- Book trains on IRCTC up to 60 days ahead; fast trains like the Gatimaan or Vande Bharat cost far less than a driver.
- Buy Jaipur's composite ticket (about ₹1,000), which covers Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and more for two days.
- Use the Delhi Metro (₹10-60) and Uber or Ola instead of hailing auto-rickshaws without a price.
- Eat at busy local restaurants and dhabas, where a thali costs a few hundred rupees.
- Pay monument fees online where possible, which is sometimes slightly cheaper and avoids queues.
- Agree auto-rickshaw fares before you get in, or insist on the app.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
How much does a day in India cost?
About ₹3,800 per person on a budget, ₹9,500 mid-range and about ₹26,000 for comfort, sharing a double and including foreigner monument fees.
How much does the Taj Mahal cost for foreigners?
About ₹1,100, plus ₹200 to enter the main mausoleum. It is closed on Fridays.
Is it worth hiring a car and driver?
For Rajasthan, a driver can be convenient, but fast trains between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur are much cheaper and often quicker.