India Cost of Living: What It Really Costs to Live and Travel Across India

When people ask about the India cost of living, the total amount needed to cover daily expenses like food, housing, transport, and activities in India. Also known as living expenses in India, it varies wildly depending on where you are, how you travel, and what kind of experience you want. This isn’t just about cheap chai and ₹200 hotel rooms—it’s about understanding what your money actually buys in Delhi versus Kochi, or a backpacker’s hostel versus a heritage stay in Jaipur.

The travel budget India, the planned amount a visitor sets aside for food, lodging, transport, and experiences while touring India can be as low as $25 a day if you’re hopping on local trains, eating at busy street stalls, and staying in simple guesthouses. But if you’re flying between cities, staying in boutique hotels, and dining at upscale restaurants, that number can jump to $150 or more. The key? Location. A meal in Varanasi might cost ₹80; in Goa, the same dish could be ₹300. A night in a basic room in Rishikesh runs ₹600; in Udaipur, it’s closer to ₹2,500. Even the cost of living in India, the ongoing expenses faced by residents and long-term visitors, including rent, utilities, and daily necessities for locals is shaped by region—urban centers demand more, while smaller towns and villages stretch rupees further.

And it’s not just about where you stay or eat. Transport adds up fast. A private driver for a day in South India? ₹2,500. A second-class train ticket from Chennai to Bangalore? ₹600. A domestic flight from Delhi to Kolkata? ₹4,000 if booked early. Then there’s entry fees, temple donations, guided tours, and souvenirs—all things that add up if you’re not tracking them. The India travel expenses, the total out-of-pocket costs incurred by visitors during their trip, including flights, lodging, food, and activities aren’t hidden, but they’re rarely obvious until you’re there. That’s why the best travelers plan by region, not by country.

What you’ll find below are real, up-to-date breakdowns from people who’ve done it—budget travelers who lived on ₹500 a day, couples who explored South India for under ₹40,000, families who stayed in heritage havelis without breaking the bank. You’ll see how the budget travel India, a style of traveling in India focused on minimizing costs while maximizing cultural and experiential value isn’t about sacrificing comfort—it’s about knowing where to spend and where to save. Whether you’re planning a 10-day trip or a six-month stay, these posts give you the numbers, the tips, and the honest comparisons so you don’t guess what your trip will cost—you’ll know.