Beverage Prices in India: What You’ll Pay for Drinks Across the Country

When you’re traveling in India, beverage prices in India, the cost of drinks ranging from bottled water to local beer and chai. Also known as drink costs in India, they vary wildly depending on where you are, what you’re drinking, and whether you’re in a five-star hotel or a roadside stall. It’s not just about thirst — it’s about understanding local economies, tourism zones, and how much you’re really paying for convenience.

Take bottled water, the most common non-alcoholic drink for travelers. Also known as packaged drinking water, it costs as little as ₹10 in a rural market and up to ₹80 in a luxury resort in Goa or Mumbai. In Delhi, a 500ml bottle at a convenience store runs ₹20–₹30, but at a highway dhaba, you might get it for ₹15. Then there’s soft drinks, like Coca-Cola or Thums Up. Also known as carbonated beverages, they’re usually ₹25–₹40 in a local shop, but jump to ₹60–₹100 in tourist spots like Jaipur’s Amber Fort or Munnar’s tea plantations. You’re not paying for the soda — you’re paying for the view.

Alcohol prices in India, a patchwork of state laws, taxes, and tourism demand. Also known as drink costs for tourists, they’re where things get tricky. In Goa, a local beer like Kingfisher costs ₹80–₹120 at a beach shack, but in Gujarat — where alcohol is banned — you’ll pay ₹500+ for a smuggled bottle, if you can find it. In Delhi, a pint of beer at a pub runs ₹300–₹500, while in Bengaluru, craft beer can hit ₹600. Even chai, India’s daily drink, changes price: ₹10 at a station cart, ₹50 at a heritage hotel in Lucknow. These aren’t random spikes — they’re tied to location, tourism density, and local regulations.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of prices. It’s a real look at what travelers actually pay — not what brochures say. You’ll see how a simple bottle of water in a temple town costs more than in a metro, why some states tax beer like it’s a luxury item, and where you can get a cold drink without getting ripped off. No fluff. No tourist traps. Just what’s real.