How Much Is $100 US in India? Your Budget Travel Guide

So, you’ve got a crisp $100 bill and you’re heading to India. Feels like a small fortune, right? Here’s the thing—100 bucks can open up all kinds of opportunities for travelers in India, from eating at local restaurants to staying in basic hotels, but how much you actually get depends a lot on the rupee to dollar exchange rate and how you choose to spend.

As of today, May 11, 2025, $100 US exchanges to roughly 8,300 Indian Rupees (INR) if you use an official money changer or withdraw from an ATM. The rate changes daily, so it’s smart to check before your trip and avoid airport counters, which charge higher fees. Having your money in rupees means fewer headaches—many places in India just won’t accept foreign currency, even in tourist hotspots.

Don’t forget, cash is still king in small towns and at local markets. Always carry some smaller bills when you’re out exploring. Getting your phone loaded with a digital payment app like Paytm or Google Pay also makes things easier in cities, but cash covers you in a pinch.

• Understanding the Exchange Rate
• How Far Does $100 Go?
• Where to Stay: Budget Stays for $100
• Eating Out on a $100 Budget
• Getting Around: Transportation Savings
• Money Tips for Travelers in India

Understanding the Exchange Rate

If you want to make your money go further on your India trip, you’ve got to understand how the exchange rate works. In simple terms, the exchange rate tells you how many Indian Rupees (INR) you'll get for a single US Dollar (USD). As of May 2025, $1 gets you about 83 Rupees, but this number isn't set in stone. It shifts daily, sometimes even hourly, due to stuff like international trade, inflation, or political changes.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the dollar-to-rupee rates from the last few years for a little perspective:

When swapping dollars, avoid the airport exchange desks if possible—they often have bad rates and sneak in hidden fees. Stick to official currency exchange shops, or better yet, use a debit card to take cash out at a local ATM. ATMs typically offer rates much closer to the official market price, though your bank might tack on a small fee.

It can help to have an exchange rate app on your phone. That way, you’ll always know how much you’re really spending. Conversion calculators are handy for haggling in markets or booking hotels online.

Here’s what to remember when exchanging money in India:

• Always count your money before leaving the counter.
• Keep receipts in case anyone asks where your rupees came from. Some hotels request proof.
• ATMs work best in cities. If you’re heading to small towns or rural areas, take out a decent chunk of cash in advance.

For India travel on a budget, knowing the exact rate and where to swap your currency saves you money right off the bat. It adds up over weeks or even days. (Nobody wants to hand over extra cash just for switching money, right?)

How Far Does $100 Go?

If you’re wondering how much value a hundred bucks really brings on the ground, the answer is: surprisingly far, especially if you spend like the locals. With roughly 8,300 INR in your pocket, your daily expenses can stretch way more than they would in most Western countries.

Here’s a typical breakdown:

• Budget accommodation: Dorm beds in good hostels start around 400-800 INR per night ($5-10). Decent private rooms in guesthouses or budget hotels run about 1,200-2,000 INR ($14-24).
• Local food and street eats: You can grab a great meal at a neighborhood place for 150-300 INR ($1.80-3.60). Street food is even cheaper—think samosas or masala chai for under 50 INR ($0.60).
• In-city transport: Short auto-rickshaw rides can cost 50-150 INR ($0.60-1.80). App taxis like Ola or Uber, depending on the city, usually start around 100 INR ($1.20).
• Sightseeing: Entry to many popular monuments and museums is 200-600 INR ($2.40-7.20) for foreigners. Some places, like rural temples or small forts, can be free or under 100 INR.
• SIM card/data: A month of basic mobile data can be under 500 INR ($6), letting you stay connected everywhere.

So if you’re doing India on a true backpacker budget, $100 can cover about 4-7 days, including a bed every night, street eats, public transport, and entry to a few attractions. If you want more comfort—private hotel rooms, air conditioning, and nicer restaurants—that same money might last just two or three days.

Keep in mind, prices are lower in smaller towns and non-touristy places. Big cities like Mumbai or Delhi chew through your cash a lot faster. Planning your route from expensive zones to cheaper states (like moving from Delhi to Rajasthan) helps your money last longer.

One cool fact: With $100 in India, you could treat yourself to 400 cups of chai. Not bad for just a hundred bucks, right?

Where to Stay: Budget Stays for $100

With $100 in India, you’ve got options. In many cities, that's enough to cover a week in a hostel or two to three nights in a private room at a budget hotel. If you’re backpacking, hostels in popular cities like Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore often ask for 500 to 1,000 INR per night—that’s $6 to $12, and usually includes Wi-Fi, laundry, and a common space where you’ll meet travelers.

Looking for something more private? Budget hotels and guesthouses can run 1,500 to 2,500 INR per night ($18 to $30) in big cities, and you’ll often get air conditioning, a clean bathroom, and maybe even free breakfast. In smaller towns and mid-sized cities, prices drop even lower. In Jaipur, for example, decent guesthouses rarely charge more than 1,200 INR ($14) nightly for a private room—and you still get all the basics.

If sharing’s your thing, check out homestays on platforms like Airbnb or Hostelworld. Prices can be as low as 800 INR ($10) per night if you don’t mind a simple setup. Homestays come with the bonus of local insight, breakfast, and sometimes home-cooked dinners.

• Hostels: $6-12 per night, usually in city centers, often very social.
• Budget Hotels: $15-30 per night, air conditioning common, private bathrooms.
• Homestays: $10-20 per night, local hosts, personal touch.

Couple of things to keep in mind: always check recent reviews online for cleanliness and safety. A lot of places advertise rooms with AC, but check if there’s a surcharge, especially in the summer. Don’t just show up expecting everything to look like the photos—ask for actual images or check traveler posts for real shots.

If you’re looking to stretch your cash (and your India travel adventure), consider staying just outside city centers. Neighborhood guesthouses or hostels away from the main tourist drag cost a lot less and give you quieter nights. Booking direct, either in person or by phone, sometimes gets you a little discount, too.

Eating Out on a 0 Budget

Here’s where things get fun—eating in India on a budget is a total win. With about 8,300 rupees in your pocket, you can eat well for days, especially if you stick to local food. A typical Indian meal at a clean, casual restaurant (called a dhaba or a mid-range eatery) might set you back 150 to 300 rupees per person. That means your $100 could buy you almost India travel food for one person for more than three weeks if you play it smart.

Street food is where your money really stretches. Chaat, samosas, dosas, and momos often cost between 30 and 80 rupees. Try a plate of pani puri or pav bhaji in Mumbai for under a dollar. In Delhi, a hearty plate of chole bhature is about 100 rupees. Want to treat yourself? A comfortable sit-down meal at a tourist-friendly restaurant or cafe in a major city usually costs 400-700 rupees per person—including drinks and dessert.

Pro tips for stretching your food budget in India:

• Eat where the locals eat. Look for busy spots—high turnover means fresh food.
• Skip international fast food chains. A burger at McDonald’s costs about five times as much as a local thali meal.
• Try lunchtime specials at decent hotels; some offer buffet lunches for 300-500 rupees.
• For snacks, buy fruit from the market. A kilo of good mangoes or bananas rarely goes over 100 rupees.
• Many train stations and bus stops have canteens with cheap, filling meals—sometimes just 40-60 rupees for a plate.

Just keep your stomach in mind. Stick to cooked food or peelable fruit at first—street food is amazing but be cautious until you adjust. If you crave coffee, an Indian-style chai from a street vendor goes for around 15 rupees, while a cappuccino at a trendy cafe might be up to 200 rupees. With smart choices, that $100 feeds you plenty and lets you sample flavors from every corner of the country.

Getting Around: Transportation Savings

Getting around India without burning through your India travel budget isn’t rocket science—you just need to know your options. Public transportation is crazy cheap if you know where to look, and it’s the best way to stretch those 8,300 rupees.

Here are the real numbers: a single metro ticket in cities like Delhi or Bangalore costs about 20 to 60 INR, depending on distance. An Uber or Ola ride across the city? Expect 200-400 INR, sometimes less if you travel off-peak. If you’re hopping between towns, sleeper class train tickets on popular routes can cost as little as 200 INR for journeys up to 300 kilometers. A government bus ride within city limits often costs even less—sometimes just 10 or 20 INR.

Here’s a quick price comparison so you know what to expect:

If you’re on a backpacker budget, thrift wins. Stick to metros and buses for most of your moving around. Trains in sleeper class are a travel experience on their own—book your tickets early on IRCTC or use the RailYatri app, because last-minute is usually a pain.

For short trips, auto-rickshaws are a classic but always ask drivers to use the meter or settle the price upfront. It’s totally normal to negotiate, and if you’re not sure, just ask a local how much the ride should cost—locals are usually happy to help you avoid getting overcharged.

Apps like Uber, Ola, RedBus, and Rapido (a motorcycle taxi app) come in handy for city travel. They pull up prices transparently. Also, keep a handful of 10 and 20 rupee notes—drivers often “don’t have change” for big bills.

If your itinerary includes remote areas, buses are your lifeline. They’re dirt cheap but can get crowded, so snagging an early morning seat helps. Private taxis are reliable for hills or offbeat places but will cost a lot more—4000 INR or more for a day trip.

The secret to making $100 go far in India? Mix things up—take public transit where you can, book major intercity trips in advance, and save app rides for late nights or when your backpack’s just way too heavy to lug another step.

Money Tips for Travelers in India

First off, never rely on just one way to get cash in India. ATMs are easy to find in cities, but in smaller towns, they can be rare or even out of service. Always stash some backup rupees for taxi rides, street food, or emergencies.

When using ATMs, avoid those inside airports if you want to dodge high fees. Stick to bank-affiliated ATMs rather than ones in small shops or hotels. You'll usually get the best rates straight from the machine, but check with your bank if they charge international withdrawal fees—some are steep, some are pretty low.

If you need to change dollars, official money changers in city centers and major hotels are your safest bet. Never accept rates from people in markets or on the street. Counterfeit notes are still a thing in India, and you don’t want to get stuck with useless bills.

India has exploded with digital payments, especially in cities. Apps like Paytm, PhonePe, and Google Pay are widely used, and you can link some to foreign cards. But remember, small-time vendors and rural spots still prefer cash. Keep some small bills—like 10, 20, and 50 rupees—because no one likes breaking a 2,000 rupee note for a cup of chai.

• Watch out for hidden charges on your cards—you might see double fees from the Indian ATM and your home bank.
• Always count your change. Shortchanging is pretty common, especially in crowded tourist areas.
• Don’t flash stacks of money. Petty theft is rare but possible, especially in train stations and busy markets.

If you’re wondering how far your India travel cash will go, 8,000 rupees in the right hands stretches a long way. But stay alert with your money, split your cash between a money belt and your wallet, and only carry what you’ll need for the day. Travel light, pay smart, and you’ll avoid stress and save more for the fun stuff.