How Much Does a Trip to India Cost?

Travel prices in India vary widely. For example, India has world-class high-end hotels and luxury resorts that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars a night, but it also offers very cheap options. Of course, in between, you can also find good value for money on comfortable trips.

India Trip Costs for 1 to 2 Weeks

India is a country where is it very easy to save on travel.

If you seek to save money, you can spend about 30–50 USD for a day in India with street food, crowded buses, and a so-so hostel.

But for most people who travel to India for a high-quality holiday, a medium or higher budget should be plenty. (As the standard of three-star hotels in India is much lower than in the West, we do not recommend them.)

• For a medium budget, touring India typically costs around 150–200 USD per day per person (including air fares within India, 4-star hotels, attractions, guides, and transfers).
• For a higher budget of US$200–250 per day per person, more comfort can be enjoyed (including air fares within India, 5-star hotels, attractions, guides, and transfers).

For one week in India, on a first visit you would probably see the classic three cities — Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. If you have 2 weeks, you could extend your travels to the west to see Rajasthan, to the north for Varanasi, etc.

For a couple's trip, you may want to add some special or romantic experiences to the trip, like a dinner by a lake or in a castle and an Indian dating evening. A couple's trip for 2 weeks in India may cost about 6,000 USD. See our 14-Day Romantic Honeymoon Trip in India for reference.

For a family trip, a big cost change is accommodation. If your kids are younger, maybe you can share a standard room. But if the children are older, you may have to pay a little more for an extra bed or a family suite. See our sample 12-Day Family Holiday in India for reference.

This is only a rough guide. We can give you specific prices based on an itinerary made for you. Contact us for your no-obligations quote. With us, you would enjoy our no-risk-booking, 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure (detail⇒).

The Cost of International Flights to India

Europe has direct flights to Delhi — from London, Paris, Zurich, Munich... A one-way air ticket is around 600 to 700 GBP flying economy.

The U.S. also has direct flights to Delhi — from New York, Chicago, San Francisco... For a one-way economy trip, the ticket is around 700 to 1,000 USD.

Flying to India from Australia directly is also available. Tickets go from around 1,500–1,800 AUD for a one-way economy trip.

July, August, and September are India's low season because of the rainy season. Air ticket prices drop by around 40% during this period.

9-Day India Highlights and Food Tour Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Varanasi

The Cost of Accommodation in India

For a 3-star hotel in India, you may need about 20–40 USD for a night. But most 3-star hotels don't match their star rating. If you expect it to match Western standards, you may be disappointed.

A better choice is 4- or 5-star hotels with well-maintained interiors, good service, and nice facilities. A 4-star hotel may cost about 80–100 USD/night and a 5-star hotel 100–150 USD. Some super-luxury hotels may cost 200 or over 300 USD a night.

During the rainy season, prices can drop by 20 to 30 percent.

When traveling in India, heritage hotels are a must-try. Some of them are ultra-luxurious real Indian palaces. They can cost 700–1,000 USD a night, while some of them are more affordable at about the same as a 4- or 5-star hotel. Staying in a Haveli (a traditional Indian mansion that often includes beautiful gardens and courtyards) is often more affordable than some of the ultra-luxurious palace hotels, but all are worth the experience.

The Cost of Transportation in India

Flying is the fastest way to travel between cities. Most flights between cities cost within 100 USD. Traveling between cities also can be done for 10 to 60 USD on trains.

For two cities that are close to each other and not reachable by plane, you should consider private transfer, which is flexible and sometimes faster than train as India's trains are often late and station transfers are time-consuming.

If you want to experience India's train travel, you can check out our 8-Day Royal Rajasthan on Wheels Tour.

India's public transportation within cities is very affordable. Taking Delhi as an example, for 0.10–0.50 USD you can take the MRT/BTS. A taxi costs about 7–12 USD for a 30-minute ride. But make sure they use their meters to avoid price disagreements.

14-Day Family Holiday in India Delhi - Agra - Ranthambore National Park - Jaipur - Mumbai - Goa

The Cost of Eating and Drinking in India

India is not an expensive country when it comes to food. A decent restaurant costs about 10–15 USD per person. And fine dining may cost as little as 20–30 USD per person. Luxury restaurants cost 50–60 USD per person and upwards.

There are also many food stalls by the roadside for 1–2 USD, selling sandwiches, curry rice, and roti (wraps). However, if you have a weak stomach, it's best not to try street food.

You can buy a soda or juice for 30 INR (0.4 USD), so soft drinks are very affordable too. It could be a little difficult to buy wine in India though. Some restaurants or supermarkets in India do not sell alcohol. There are 'wine shops' in India that specialize in selling alcohol. Alcohol is expensive in India because of higher taxes. A beer sells for about 2–6 USD. Stronger drinks (whiskey, gin, vodka, etc.) usually cost from 2–13 USD per measure.

14-Day Romantic Honeymoon Trip in India Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur

The Cost of Attractions and Activities in India

Sightseeing in India is very affordable. Tickets for most tourist attractions in India range from 1 to 9 USD. There are also many temples and museums that are free of charge, like Agra Fort.

Some entertainments like a night show, watching a movie, etc. cost about 5–10 USD.

10-Day North India Tour (Delhi to Shimla) Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Amritsar - Shimla

Tips for Saving Money

India's rainy season sees some big discounts. July, August, and September offer 30–40% off many travel expenses.

You can also choose budget airlines when traveling around India, like IndiGo and SpiceJet Airlines. See The 8 Best Domestic Airlines in India.

Some travel agencies offer good value in money too. In India, the cost of a private tour is much more affordable than in Western countries. In peak season, travel agencies can even help you get a better price, as they work in cooperation with some hotels. They are also more aware of the promotional activities of tourist attractions.

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Tour India with Us

You are warmly welcomed to have us customize your trip based on your group size, interests, and other needs. Sit back and use our Create My Trip service.

Or start from a recommended fully-modifiable itinerary:

• 14-Day Romantic Honeymoon Trip in India
• 9-Day India Golden Triangle with Tiger Safari
• 12-Day Family Holiday in India
• 11-Day India and Nepal Tour

Cancellation Policy: With Asia Highlights, you enjoy 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure (detail⇒).