How Much Money Is Enough to Travel India on a Budget?

How much money do you really need to travel India? It’s not a trick question - but the answer depends on how you travel. You can spend $100 a day and stay in luxury hotels, or you can get by on $15 a day and still see the Taj Mahal, ride a rickshaw through Delhi, and eat fresh curry on a street corner. The truth? India rewards frugality. You don’t need to be rich to explore it - you just need to know how to move through it.

Backpacking India: The Real Daily Costs

Most backpackers in India spend between $15 and $30 a day. That covers food, lodging, local transport, and a few sights. Let’s break it down:

• Accommodation: A clean dorm bed in a hostel costs $3-$8 in cities like Delhi, Jaipur, or Goa. Private rooms start at $10-$15. In smaller towns, you can find basic guesthouses for $5-$7.
• Food: A plate of dal rice or chole bhature from a street vendor runs $1-$2. A meal at a simple local restaurant? $3-$5. Even if you eat three meals a day, you’ll spend under $10. Skip the tourist restaurants - they charge three times as much for the same food.
• Transport: Local buses and trains are dirt cheap. A 4-hour train ride in a non-AC sleeper class? Around $5. A 30-minute auto-rickshaw ride in a city? $1-$2. If you book intercity trains ahead of time, you can travel across states for under $20.
• Attractions: Most temples and historical sites cost $1-$3 to enter. The Taj Mahal? $15 for foreigners. That’s the most expensive single ticket you’ll likely pay.

So, $20 a day? That’s doable. And if you’re careful - skipping tourist traps, eating where locals eat, and using public transport - you can stretch $15 a day for weeks.

What Changes the Budget?

Not all of India is the same. The cost of travel shifts depending on where you go and how you move.

• North India (Delhi, Agra, Varanasi): Popular with tourists, so prices are slightly higher. But still, you can live on $20 a day if you avoid overpriced hotels near the Taj.
• South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu): More relaxed, fewer crowds. Hostels are cheaper, and train rides are often smoother. Daily budget: $15-$25.
• Goa: The exception. Beach shacks, parties, and foreign tourists drive prices up. A dorm bed here can cost $10-$15. Meals? $5-$8. You’ll need at least $30 a day here - unless you go off-season (May to September), when prices drop by half.
• Rural areas and small towns: This is where India gets cheap. A night in a village homestay? $3. A three-course meal? $1.50. Local buses? Free or 10 cents. If you’re willing to go off the beaten path, your budget can shrink to $10 a day.

Also, timing matters. Travel during monsoon (June-September) and you’ll find discounts everywhere - hotels drop prices, trains have empty seats, and locals are happy to have visitors. Just pack a raincoat.

What You Shouldn’t Skimp On

There are a few things you shouldn’t cut corners on - not because they’re expensive, but because they’re worth the cost.

• Train tickets: Book your long-distance trains early. Third-class sleeper is fine - it’s clean, safe, and cheap. But don’t show up the day before expecting to get a seat. Book through the IRCTC website or app. It’s the only reliable way.
• Water: Never drink tap water. Bottled water costs $0.25. Buy a refillable bottle and fill it at hotels or filtered water stations. Some hostels offer free filtered water - ask.
• Basic medicine: Bring diarrhea pills, painkillers, and antiseptic cream. Pharmacies are everywhere, but brand names can be confusing. Stick to common ones like Paracetamol or ORS packets.

These aren’t luxuries. They’re necessities. Spend $10 on them upfront, and you’ll avoid a week of being sick on the road.

How Much for a Month?

If you’re planning a 30-day trip, here’s what you’ll realistically spend:

That’s it. You can travel India for under $1,000 for a full month. That’s less than the cost of a round-trip flight from Canada to India. And you’ll still have money left for souvenirs, chai, and a few surprise detours.

Hidden Costs and Surprises

There are a few things that catch people off guard.

• Camera fees: Many temples and heritage sites charge extra to take photos. The Taj Mahal charges $5 extra for a DSLR. It’s annoying, but it’s standard.
• Tipping: Not mandatory, but expected in restaurants, for guides, and for hotel staff. $1-$2 is enough. Don’t overdo it - it can encourage demands.
• ATM fees: Indian ATMs charge $2-$4 per withdrawal. Use them sparingly. Withdraw $100 at a time to save on fees.
• Visa: The e-Visa costs $80 and takes 3-5 days to process. Apply online before you fly. No exceptions.

These aren’t deal-breakers. But if you don’t plan for them, you’ll be surprised when your budget runs thin.

How to Stretch Your Money Even Further

Here are a few real tricks that work:

1. Use local buses instead of trains for short hops. They’re slower, but 90% cheaper.
2. Stay in homestays run by families. You get a room, breakfast, and local tips for $5-$8.
3. Buy snacks at local markets. Bananas, roasted peanuts, and samosas cost less than a dollar.
4. Learn a few Hindi phrases. Saying “Kitna hai?” (How much?) and “Thoda sasta karo” (Make it cheaper) gets you better prices.
5. Travel slow. Stay in one place for a week. You’ll get discounts on lodging and meals.

One traveler I met in Varanasi lived on $8 a day for six weeks. He slept in a temple guesthouse, ate with monks, and hitchhiked between towns. He didn’t have a fancy camera or a guidebook. He just had a notebook and curiosity.

Is a Day Too Much?

Yes - if you’re trying to stretch your budget. $50 a day lets you live like a tourist: fancy hotels, Uber rides, Western food, and guided tours. But you’re not experiencing India. You’re just paying to avoid it.

India’s magic isn’t in its five-star resorts. It’s in the chaos of Mumbai’s local trains, the smell of incense in a temple courtyard, the way a chai wallah remembers your name after three days. That doesn’t cost money. It costs attention.

If you’re willing to sleep on a mattress on the floor, eat with your hands, and ride a 12-hour train in a sleeper car - you’ll come away with more than souvenirs. You’ll come away with stories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps

If you’re ready to go, start here:

• Apply for your e-Visa now - it takes up to 5 days.
• Book your first night’s stay in Delhi or Mumbai - you’ll need a place to land.
• Download IRCTC Rail Connect and Ola app before you leave.
• Pack a small first-aid kit, a reusable water bottle, and a power bank.
• Set a daily budget - $20 is a good target. Track it with a free app like Trail Wallet.

You don’t need a lot of money to see India. You just need the willingness to move slowly, eat simply, and stay open. The country will reward you with more than you ever expected - and it won’t cost you a fortune.