Is Varanasi expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Varanasi is one of the cheapest major destinations in India for visitors: street food, guesthouses and rickshaws cost very little, and most of what you come for, the ghats and the aarti, is free. A budget day is about ₹1,700 per person, mid-range about ₹5,100 and comfort about ₹17,000. Boats, heritage hotels on the ghats and silk shopping are where money goes.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₹700 | ₹2,500 | ₹10,000 |
| Food & drink | ₹500 | ₹1,200 | ₹3,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₹300 | ₹800 | ₹2,000 |
| Local transport | ₹200 | ₹600 | ₹2,000 |
| Per person, per day | ₹1,700 | ₹5,100 | ₹17,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Varanasi day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Kachori sabzi with jalebi | about ₹40–100 a plate |
| Tamatar chaat (tomato chaat) | about ₹40–80 a bowl |
| Lassi in a clay cup | about ₹40–120 |
| Banarasi paan | about ₹20–60 |
| Thali in a simple restaurant | about ₹150–350 |
| Private rowing boat at sunrise, about an hour | roughly ₹500–1,000, agreed first |
| Shared boat for the evening aarti | about ₹200–400 per person |
| Rickshaw or e-rickshaw ride in the city | usually ₹50–200, agreed first |
| Taxi from the airport | roughly ₹800–1,200 |
| Dinner in a hotel restaurant | about ₹800–2,000 |
| Riverside guesthouse with Ganges views | roughly ₹3,000–7,000 a room |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
A bed costs about ₹700 per person sharing in an Assi Ghat guesthouse, ₹2,500 in a riverside room with views and ₹10,000 in a heritage palace hotel on the ghats, plus GST of 5–18% depending on the room rate. Food is about ₹500 a day on street breakfasts, chaat, thalis and lassi, or ₹1,200 with restaurant meals. Sights are cheap, about ₹300 a day, since the ghats, the aarti and the temples are free; boats, which are counted here, and the Sarnath museum are the main costs. Transport is ₹200–600 a day on rickshaws and app taxis.
When it is cheaper
The hot months (April to June) and the monsoon (July to September) usually have the lowest room prices. Rates are highest from October to March and jump around Dev Deepawali in November, when rooms sell out months ahead.
How to spend less
- Agree the price and the route before getting into any boat or rickshaw.
- Watch the Ganga Aarti from the steps at Dashashwamedh (free; arrive 45 minutes early) rather than paying for a boat.
- Eat breakfast at the kachori shops in the old-city lanes, where a full plate costs under ₹100.
- Use Uber or Ola for longer rides, such as the airport or Sarnath, to get a fixed price.
- For silk, visit a weaving workshop and compare prices; a cheap 'pure silk' Banarasi sari is usually not real.
- Find famous lassi and sweet shops on a map yourself rather than following touts, who earn commission.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Varanasi?
About ₹1,700 per person on a budget, about ₹5,100 mid-range and about ₹17,000 for comfort, including a share of a double room, food, boats and sights, and transport.
How much does a boat ride on the Ganges cost?
Roughly ₹500–1,000 for a private rowing boat for about an hour at sunrise, depending on season and bargaining; shared boats for the evening aarti cost about ₹200–400 per person. Agree the price first.
Is the Ganga Aarti free?
Yes. Watching from the steps of Dashashwamedh Ghat is free; arrive about 45 minutes early for a good spot.