Travel budget and cost of living in India how much does a trip cost?
Are you planning to go to India and need to budget for your trip? On this page you can see sample prices. This enables you to get to grips with actual prices and the cost of living in India. Then, why not use our free tool to calculate your India travel budget.
Travel budget in India
India: calculate your travel budget
India: sample budgets by traveller type
These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in India for 2 people.
Low budget
(backpacker)
Daily budget:
- $ 32 for 2 ppl.
- $ 4.6 per person
- $ 1.3 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 608* (52094 Rs.)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 60 for 2 ppl.
- $ 11 per person
- $ 3 per person
- $ 3.6 per person
Total budget:
$ 1327* (113652 Rs.)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 92 for 2 ppl.
- $ 15 per person
- $ 6 per person
- $ 7.2 per person
Total budget:
$ 2065* (176932 Rs.)
* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).
Cost of living in India in 2025
Cost of living: India VS United States
On average, the cost of living in India in 2025 is 62% less than in the United States (USA).
The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:
Explore each type of expense in detail:
Local prices in India by expense type
India: Restaurant budget
On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in India costs 68% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 3/person
($ 1.2 to $ 6)
($ 1.2 to $ 6)
85% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 213 course dinner
$ 7.2/person
($ 4.2 to $ 19)
($ 4.2 to $ 19)
81% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39McDonald's meal
$ 4.2/person
($ 3.4 to $ 6)
($ 3.4 to $ 6)
62% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12Local beer
$ 2 for 500ml
($ 1.2 to $ 4.2)
($ 1.2 to $ 4.2)
68% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.1Imported beer
$ 3 for 330ml
($ 1.8 to $ 5.4)
($ 1.8 to $ 5.4)
13% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6Cappuccino
$ 1.8/cup
($ 0.7 to $ 3.6)
($ 0.7 to $ 3.6)
64% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3Fizzy drink
$ 0.4/can
($ 0.3 to $ 0.7)
($ 0.3 to $ 0.7)
83% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6Water bottle
$ 0.2/bottle
($ 0.1 to $ 0.2)
($ 0.1 to $ 0.2)
91% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1India: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in India costs 55% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
$ 47/night
($ 17 to $ 243)
($ 17 to $ 243)
71% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1662-star hotel
$ 64/night
($ 15 to $ 451)
($ 15 to $ 451)
59% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1573-star hotel
$ 57/night
($ 15 to $ 292)
($ 15 to $ 292)
75% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2314-star hotel
$ 127/night
($ 40 to $ 419)
($ 40 to $ 419)
60% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3225-star hotel
$ 241/night
($ 113 to $ 694)
($ 113 to $ 694)
53% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 519Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 67/month
($ 37 to $ 235)
($ 37 to $ 235)
59% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166Room with kitchen
$ 129/month
($ 24 to $ 557)
($ 24 to $ 557)
47% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 246Hotel with swimming pool
$ 151/month
($ 33 to $ 614)
($ 33 to $ 614)
28% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 209Cottage or guest house
$ 60/month
($ 31 to $ 237)
($ 31 to $ 237)
74% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 235Family room
$ 159/month
($ 28 to $ 823)
($ 28 to $ 823)
22% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 205India: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in India costs 74% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 0.8/litre
($ 0.5 to $ 0.9)
($ 0.5 to $ 0.9)
32% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1Bread
$ 0.5/500g
($ 0.3 to $ 0.9)
($ 0.3 to $ 0.9)
85% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6Rice
$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)
84% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6Eggs
$ 1/12 eggs
($ 0.8 to $ 1.4)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.4)
73% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8Chicken
$ 3.3/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 4.8)
($ 1.8 to $ 4.8)
73% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13Apples
$ 2.2/kg
($ 1 to $ 3.4)
($ 1 to $ 3.4)
59% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3Tomatoes
$ 0.5/kg
($ 0.2 to $ 1.1)
($ 0.2 to $ 1.1)
88% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5Potatoes
$ 0.4/kg
($ 0.2 to $ 0.7)
($ 0.2 to $ 0.7)
86% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3Water bottle
$ 0.3
($ 0.2 to $ 0.4)
($ 0.2 to $ 0.4)
84% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2India: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in India costs 55% less than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 0.3/ticket
($ 0.2 to $ 0.8)
($ 0.2 to $ 0.8)
85% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5Taxi (per km)
$ 0.3/km
($ 0.2 to $ 0.7)
($ 0.2 to $ 0.7)
83% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8Petrol
$ 1.2/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.3)
($ 1.2 to $ 1.3)
29% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 0.9
($ 0.3 to $ 1.8)
($ 0.3 to $ 1.8)
76% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7Car hire
$ 29/24hrs
($ 21 to $ 54)
($ 21 to $ 54)
61% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 73India: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in India costs 69% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 3.6/ticket
($ 2.4 to $ 6)
($ 2.4 to $ 6)
74% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15Tennis
$ 7.5/hr
($ 3 to $ 12)
($ 3 to $ 12)
64% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22India: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in India costs 48% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 4.2/pack
($ 3 to $ 4.8)
($ 3 to $ 4.8)
58% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11Levi's jeans
$ 28
($ 12 to $ 48)
($ 12 to $ 48)
49% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54Summer dress
$ 29
($ 12 to $ 48)
($ 12 to $ 48)
36% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44Plane ticket budget
Melbourne → Delhi
$ 934
(fair price: $ 765)
(fair price: $ 765)
Sydney → Delhi
$ 973
(fair price: $ 811)
(fair price: $ 811)
Toronto → Delhi
$ 1677
(fair price: $ 1467)
(fair price: $ 1467)
New York City → Delhi
$ 1198
(fair price: $ 996)
(fair price: $ 996)
Melbourne → Kerala
$ 712
(fair price: $ 613)
(fair price: $ 613)
Sydney → Bangalore (Karnataka)
$ 898
(fair price: $ 740)
(fair price: $ 740)
About the information on the cost of living in India
The information about the cost of living in India shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.
Information about cost of living in India updated on 09-11-2024.