How Much Money Do I Need to Travel to India? Budget Guide for 2025

Planning a trip to India doesn’t mean you need to break the bank. In 2025, you can explore ancient temples, ride through bustling bazaars, and sleep under the stars in the desert for less than you think. The real question isn’t whether you can afford it-it’s how you want to experience it. A barebones trip can cost as little as $25 a day. A comfortable, slightly upgraded version? Around $50-$70. And if you’re flying business class and staying in heritage hotels? That’s a different budget altogether. Let’s cut through the noise and give you the real numbers, broken down by what actually matters.

Accommodation: Where You Sleep Matters Most

Your lodging eats up the biggest chunk of your budget. In India, you have options from dorm beds to royal palaces. For budget travelers, hostels and guesthouses are the norm. In cities like Delhi, Mumbai, or Jaipur, a clean private room with a fan costs $8-$15 a night. Air-conditioned rooms? Add $5-$10. In smaller towns or near temples-like Varanasi or Pushkar-you can find spots for $5-$10. If you’re okay with shared bathrooms and basic amenities, dorm beds go for $3-$6. That’s cheaper than a coffee in New York.

Want to splurge? Heritage hotels in Rajasthan start at $80 a night and go up to $500. But you don’t need to. Most travelers find that mid-range guesthouses offer the sweet spot: clean, safe, and with a rooftop view of the city skyline. Book through local platforms like OYO or Airbnb for better deals than international sites.

Food: Eat Like a Local, Not a Tourist

India’s food is one of its biggest bargains. Street food isn’t just cheap-it’s unforgettable. A plate of chaat, samosa, or dosa costs $0.50-$1.50. A filling thali (rice, dal, veggies, roti, yogurt) from a local eatery runs $2-$4. Even in tourist-heavy areas like Goa or Agra, you can eat well for under $5 a meal.

Restaurants targeting foreigners? Those are where prices jump. A simple curry with rice at a “tourist restaurant” might cost $8-$12. Skip those. Walk a block away. Find the place with five Indian families eating. That’s where the real flavor-and value-is.

Drink water? Don’t buy bottled. Use a filter bottle or ask for filtered water at your guesthouse. A liter of bottled water costs $0.50, but you’ll go through 3-4 liters a day in the heat. That adds up fast. Tea? $0.25. Fresh juice? $0.75. A beer at a bar? $3-$5. Alcohol is taxed heavily, so don’t expect cheap drinks.

Transport: Trains, Tuk-Tuks, and Buses

Getting around India is part of the adventure-and it’s affordable. For long distances, trains are the best bet. A second-class sleeper ticket from Delhi to Agra (200 miles) costs $7-$12. Delhi to Varanasi? Around $20. AC three-tier? Add $10-$15. Book via IRCTC, India’s official site, or use apps like Cleartrip. Avoid last-minute tickets during festivals-they sell out and prices spike.

Local transport? Auto-rickshaws charge $0.50-$3 for short rides. Always agree on a price before you get in. Or use Ola or Uber-both work well in cities and are often cheaper than hailing a tuk-tuk. Buses are even cheaper: intercity buses from Jaipur to Jodhpur cost $5-$8. Overnight buses save you a night’s lodging too.

Domestic flights? They’re surprisingly cheap if booked early. A flight from Delhi to Kochi can drop to $40-$60 if you book 3-4 weeks ahead. But for most travelers, trains are faster, more scenic, and just as efficient.

Attractions and Activities: Entry Fees and Tours

India’s monuments are cheap to visit-but the fees vary wildly for locals vs. foreigners. The Taj Mahal charges $20 for foreigners, $0.50 for Indians. That’s a 40x difference. The Red Fort? $10. Humayun’s Tomb? $5. Most temples charge $1-$5 for foreigners. Some, like the Golden Temple in Amritsar, are free for everyone.

Guided tours? Skip the big agencies. Local guides at sites charge $5-$10 for a 2-hour tour. They know more, speak better English, and tip their drivers. In Varanasi, a boat ride on the Ganges at sunrise costs $3-$5. In Rajasthan, a camel safari in Jaisalmer runs $15-$25 for half a day.

Don’t forget to budget for small tips. A porter helping with your bags? $0.50. A hotel staff member who brings you extra towels? $1. These add up, but they’re part of the culture-and they matter to the people.

How Much Should You Actually Budget?

Here’s a realistic breakdown for a 14-day trip, based on what thousands of travelers spend in 2025:

• Budget traveler: $350-$500 total ($25-$35/day)
• Comfortable traveler: $700-$1,000 total ($50-$70/day)
• Luxury traveler: $1,500+ total ($100+/day)

That includes flights? No. International flights are the wild card. Round-trip from the U.S. or Europe? $700-$1,200. From Southeast Asia? $300-$500. So if you’re flying from the U.S., add at least $800-$1,200 to your budget.

Why the big range? Because your experience changes everything. A budget traveler eats street food, takes night buses, stays in dorms, and walks everywhere. A comfortable traveler gets private rooms, eats at local restaurants, takes trains in AC classes, and hires a guide for key sites. Luxury means private cars, five-star hotels, and spa days.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Don’t assume everything is cheap. Some things surprise people:

• ATM fees: Indian banks charge $3-$5 per withdrawal. Use ATMs inside banks, not street kiosks. Withdraw $100 at a time to reduce fees.
• Visa costs: The e-Visa is $100 for most nationalities. It’s valid for five years. Don’t skip this-it’s non-negotiable.
• Travel insurance: It’s not mandatory, but you’ll regret not having it if you get sick or lose a bag. $50-$80 for 30 days is worth it.
• Scams: Fake guides, overpriced tuk-tuks, “closed” temples-they’re common. Trust your gut. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Also, don’t pack heavy. Most guesthouses don’t have elevators. Luggage carts cost $1. A 10kg backpack is enough. Buy clothes locally if you need them-saris, kurtas, and scarves cost $5-$15.

What You Can Skip to Save Money

You don’t need to do everything. Here’s what most travelers regret spending on:

• Expensive guided tours: Skip the $50/day group tours. Hire a local guide for $10 at the site.
• Western restaurants: You won’t miss them. Indian food is better, cheaper, and more authentic.
• Multiple cities in one trip: Rushing from Delhi to Goa to Kerala? That’s expensive and exhausting. Pick 2-3 places and stay longer.
• High-end souvenirs: Handmade carpets and jewelry are beautiful-but overpriced for tourists. Buy from local markets, not tourist shops.

Focus on experiences, not things. A sunrise at the Taj Mahal. A train ride through the Himalayan foothills. A conversation with a shopkeeper in Varanasi. Those cost nothing-and they last forever.

Final Tip: Budget Like a Local

Indians don’t plan trips by day. They plan by experience. Ask yourself: What do I want to feel? Peace? Wonder? Adventure? Then build your budget around that.

If you want to see the Taj Mahal, save up for the entry fee and a sunrise visit. If you want to relax on a beach, skip the luxury resort and stay in a simple guesthouse in Gokarna. If you want to feel the pulse of India, take the overnight train, eat with strangers, and sleep where the locals sleep.

India rewards patience, curiosity, and simplicity. You don’t need a big budget. You just need the right mindset.