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Cost of travel in India
It is well known that a holiday to India could be one of the cheapest trips you’ll ever have. But just because it’s cheap, doesn’t mean it’s not worth the money. Travelling India is great value for money and your cash can go pretty far if you keep your wits about you. That said, with any holiday, the cost is variable depending on how much luxury you want to inject into your trip. Do you prefer to splurge on your holidays with extravagant hotel-suites, four course meals and exotic cocktails? Or would you prefer to eat at local diners and try your hand at navigating the public transport systems?
Excluding accommodation; for budget travellers, we suggest a daily amount of ₹700 - ₹2200 ($10 - $30) - however this can be done for much lower if you’re savvy. For a person with a mid-range budget, take around ₹2450 - ₹5500 ($35 - $80). And for those who enjoy the finer things in life, budget for upwards of ₹7,000 ($100 +). If you’d like to keep a record of your budgeting, Trailwallet is a great app.
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Admission fees
India has beautiful temples, incredible historical buildings and thousands of monuments and attractions to visit. For the standard guide-book attractions we suggest a daily budget of ₹500 - ₹1500 ($7 - $21). -
Transport
India has a fantastic rail network which is generally the preferred mode of transport for getting from city to city. Trains have a variety of classes to choose from, so depending on your budget and preferences, a journey could cost anything from ₹35 ($0.50) to ₹225 ($3.25) per hour. For getting around the city itself, Rickshaws are the best option which cost around ₹25 ($0.35) per km. Bicycle rickshaws cost about ₹15 ($0.24) per km.
Top Tip!
For short journeys around cities, opt for tuk-tuks instead of taxis - they always work out much cheaper.
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Food & drink
Food in India is delicious and luckily, very affordable even if you are living on a shoestring. Meals can often come to well under a dollar. A Thali is always a good option, as it consists of a variety of dishes which are usually refillable and come to less than ₹100 ($1.50). A meal of curry, rice and chapati at a nicer restaurant will usually set you back around ₹200 - ₹350 ($3 - $5).
Tipping etiquette and costs
India in general, does not have a tipping culture. It is never compulsory, but if you can afford it and the service was reasonable, it’s a nice bonus. It is more expected to tip in heavily tourist areas such as Goa as they are used to foreigners tipping.
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Restaurants
You will sometimes see a service charge on the bill (mainly in fancier restaurants), in which case you do not need to tip. If there is no service included, 5% is the average to tip with 10% being a significantly large amount. If you are at a local, roadside stop, leaving the change is perfectly acceptable.
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Guides
For tour guides, we recommend tipping around ₹200 - ₹350 per day depending on the level of service. If you are planning any trekking excursions, budget for tipping the porters around ₹200 - ₹350 and the guides around ₹350 - ₹500 per day.
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Transport
Taxi drivers rarely expect a tip, and as it’s best to always try to arrange the fare before you set off, a tip is generally not required. With rickshaws however, you can round up the cost if you’d like. If you hire a driver for the day however, it is customary to give them a tip at the end as they would’ve been waiting around for you in various places throughout the day - ₹200 is sufficient for a day. -
Drinks
In the more fancier places such as spas or luxury hotels, be aware that there could be a few extra charges on your bill when ordering alcoholic drinks. There can be GST at 18%, a 10% service charge, alcohol VAT and a possible ‘luxury charge’ added to your bill.
Top Tip!
People will often approach to ‘help’ you, usually with directions or handling your luggage. They will be doing this for a tip. If you do not want to pay a tip, make sure you don’t let them help you as they will demand you pay afterwards.
Can you haggle in India?
Haggling is an essential part of life in India. If you don’t bargain over the price, you will certainly be overpaying for almost everything. It may feel uncomfortable for those who are new to the concept, but rest assured, it is part of the buying process and sellers actually enjoy the sport of it. The rule of thumb is, if you can’t see a price tag, then the price is not fixed. However, bear in mind that everywhere in India (be it rickshaws, shops or market stalls) will have one price for locals and one for foreigners, so don’t be alarmed if an Indian gets a much lower price for a rickshaw than they quoted for you. Here's a few tips:
- Never buy the first item you see. Visit a few different stalls/shops to find a happy balance between the costs. You’ll get a better idea of what a fair price is for that item.
- The general rule is to never pay more than half the initial asking price. If you are buying more than one item, you can often strike an even better deal.
- If you really want an item, don’t make it obvious. Appear like you aren’t too interested otherwise they will stay firm on their initial, high offer.
- A lot of sellers believe the first sale of the day to be lucky, so shopping in the morning could get you a better price!
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