How Much to Save for Vacation: Real Costs for Traveling in India

When you’re asking how much to save for vacation, the total amount needed to fund a trip based on destination, duration, and travel style. Also known as travel budget, it’s not about guessing—you need real numbers, not averages from blogs that haven’t been to India in five years. Most people think India is cheap, and it is—but only if you know where to look. A backpacker in Rajasthan might spend $15 a day on food, hostels, and local buses. But if you want a private safari in Ranthambore, a decent hotel in Goa, or a flight from Delhi to Kerala, your daily cost jumps fast. This isn’t about luxury—it’s about avoiding surprise bills when your card gets declined at a train station.

India travel budget, the planned amount of money allocated for expenses during a trip to India isn’t one-size-fits-all. If you’re flying from the US, round-trip tickets can cost $700–$1,200 depending on season and airline. Add a visa ($160), travel insurance ($50), and a few vaccines ($100–$200), and you’ve already spent $1,000 before you land. Then there’s transport: trains are cheap, but private drivers for wildlife tours? That’s $50–$100 a day. Accommodation ranges from $5 dorm beds to $150 boutique stays. Food? Street food costs $1–$3 a meal. A nice dinner in Udaipur? $15–$25. You don’t need to spend more than you want—but you do need to plan for what you do want.

Cost of traveling in India, the total out-of-pocket expenses incurred by a visitor during their stay changes depending on where you go. Kerala’s backwaters cost more than rural Madhya Pradesh. Goa’s beaches in December? Prices double. A temple tour in Varanasi might be free, but hiring a guide for Khajuraho? $15. And don’t forget the little things: bottled water, SIM cards, entrance fees to national parks. One traveler saved $300 by skipping the overpriced tourist restaurants and eating where locals did. Another blew their budget because they didn’t realize most safaris require advance booking and non-refundable deposits.

You don’t need to be rich to travel India. You just need to know what’s coming. That’s why the posts below aren’t about vague advice like "travel cheap"—they show you exactly how much people spent on food, transport, and safaris in 2025. You’ll see real breakdowns: what a week in Rajasthan costs, how much a train ride from Delhi to Jaipur adds up to, why some travelers pay more for flights than hotels. No fluff. No marketing. Just what you need to save, plan, and actually enjoy your trip without stress.