Is India Still Cheap to Travel? Budget Tips and Real Costs in 2025

Thinking India is all super-cheap hostels and fifty-cent street food? That used to be the case, but this year, things are changing. With the rising popularity of digital nomads, more Western-style cafes popping up, and a ton of social media hype, India in 2025 isn’t as dirt-cheap as it was a decade ago.

But don’t count out bargain travel just yet. If you know where to look—and are willing to trade a bit of comfort for authenticity—you can still backpack India without blowing your entire savings. Train tickets for sleeper class are still affordable, local buses go just about everywhere, and street eats in most cities won’t sting your wallet. The real secret? Being flexible about where you stay, what you eat, and watching out for tourist-targeted prices.

If you’re gunning for a cheap trip, avoid big tourist hotspots during peak season and skip the fancy chains. Choose local guesthouses over hotels, hop on the trains instead of flying short-haul, and don’t shy away from market stalls for meals. It’s about making small choices to keep the adventure affordable.

• How Much Does It Really Cost to Travel India in 2025?
• Where Are the Cheap Spots—and Where Prices Are Rising
• Budget Stays, Food, and Getting Around: The Truth
• Best Tips for Saving Cash Without Missing Out

How Much Does It Really Cost to Travel India in 2025?

If you’re trying to figure out how much cash you’ll burn through in budget travel India this year, here’s the real deal: daily costs are higher than they used to be, but still pretty manageable compared to Europe or North America.

For most backpackers or budget travelers who keep things simple, living off of local eats and sleeping in guesthouses, you can expect to spend somewhere between ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 a day (that’s about $24 to $42 USD as of today’s rate). If you want air conditioning, private rooms, or fancier meals, bump that up to ₹4,000 to ₹5,500 per day easily.

Train travel is still a bargain if you stick to sleeper class or second-class. Night trains save you on accommodation. Buses between cities cost less than a movie outing back home, except for fancy Volvo buses which cost more but come with AC and fewer bumps. Domestic flights are getting pricier, so keep those for really long distances.

A big expense now is entry tickets to famous sites. For example, the Taj Mahal entry for foreigners is ₹1,300. That’s more than a day’s budget for some travelers, so pick your bucket-list stops wisely.

So, is India travel cost still low? Yes, but it depends on your choices. Sticking to local options and avoiding high-end places keeps your costs lower. Use UPI/Paytm or cash for most things; cards sometimes add fees or aren’t accepted in smaller towns.

Pro tip: If you’re traveling with friends, split rideshare and accommodation costs. Group discounts are rare, but it’s still way cheaper to share most things.

Where Are the Cheap Spots—and Where Prices Are Rising

If you’re chasing true budget travel India vibes, it all comes down to where you go. Cities like Varanasi, Amritsar, and most smaller towns in the north are still kind to your wallet. A dorm bed in many hostels is about ₹350–500 ($4–6), and local meals hardly crack ₹200 ($2.50). You’ll stretch your cash even further in states like Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, where fewer tourists mean fewer markup prices and less of the tourist trap vibe.

But the days of shoestring travel in every corner of India are over, especially in places like Goa, Rishikesh, Mumbai, and parts of Rajasthan. Goa, for example, is still a legend for its beaches, but expect to pay double for accommodation during the main season (November to February) compared to just a few years ago. Jaipur and Udaipur have seen a surge in prices for pretty much everything, from tuk-tuk rides to entrance tickets for palaces. Why? The tourist crowd has doubled, and so have the businesses aiming for a quick buck.

Let’s talk Himalayas: If you’re heading for the classic mountain escape, Himachal Pradesh’s popular towns like Manali, Kasol, and Dharamshala aren’t quite the bargain anymore, either. The picture isn’t as bad in Uttarakhand—Almora, Kausani, and less Instagrammed villages keep things cheap, but be wary of hill stations packed with travelers.

Here’s a quick comparison of a few spots in 2025 (all prices in INR):

If you’re really counting your rupees, stick to less-famous cities and avoid big names in guidebooks. The best India travel cost savings always come when you go off the tourist trail. The food’s usually more authentic too—and honestly, who travels to eat avocado toast?

Budget Stays, Food, and Getting Around: The Truth

Is it still possible to travel across India on a tight budget in 2025? The short answer: yes, but you have to be smart. Cheap hotels and hostels are definitely around, but prices in bigger cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore have crept up. Expect to pay anywhere from 500 to 1500 INR per night for a basic clean room in big cities—double what it cost a few years ago. Smaller towns and less-visited places are still good for 300 to 700 INR a night, especially if you look for local guesthouses.

If you want true budget travel India style, ditch the international chains. Platforms like Zostel and hostelworld.com show the real rates, and notice that advance booking almost always gives you a better deal. Some guesthouses throw in breakfast—a solid value, especially in places like Varanasi or Pushkar where local food drives the price down even further.

Food is where you can save big. Street food remains a bargain. Fresh samosas, corn-on-the-cob, or steaming chana masala can run 30 to 80 INR per snack. Full local meals like a thali will usually cost 80 to 200 INR—way cheaper than eating at upmarket cafes (where you easily drop 300+ INR for something “Western”). Always ask for the price before you order, especially in touristy areas where prices may get inflated for outsiders.

Getting around is still the real hack for cheap travel India. Trains remain the backbone; a second-class unreserved ticket from Delhi to Jaipur, for example, can cost as little as 110 INR. Sleeper class for longer routes is super economical and safe if you book in advance. Buses are everywhere, and local options beat air-conditioned tourist buses in price—just check the departure point and schedules at the bus station or online. Want even more dirt-cheap? Shared rickshaws and public city buses cost a fraction of what Uber or taxis charge.

If you absolutely need Wi-Fi or AC, prices go up, but many places now have solid Wi-Fi—competition means they throw it in for free more often than you’d expect. Don’t forget, bargaining is normal in lots of hotels and markets but usually not with government trains or buses (though local rickshaw drivers love a haggle).

So, yes, you can still do India on a real budget, but costs are creeping upward if you stick to tourist trails or demand fancy extras. Stay flexible, book ahead for popular spots, and try street eats—it all adds up to big savings and way more authentic memories.

Best Tips for Saving Cash Without Missing Out

Ready to make your budget travel India dream work without turning into a total penny-pincher? Here’s how you can score the best experiences without burning up cash.

• Pick Local Transport Over Taxis: Trains and state-run buses are ridiculously affordable. For example, a sleeper class train ticket from Delhi to Jaipur (about 280 km) still costs under ₹200 (less than $3). Skip Ubers and autos unless you’re in a pinch.
• Eat Like a Local: Ditch Western restaurants unless you’re missing home comfort. India’s street food isn’t just cheap, it’s full of flavor and legit safe at busy stalls. A plate of chole bhature or a masala dosa? Usually under ₹80 ($1) in most states.
• Negotiate Everything: Haggling is expected at markets, tuk-tuk rides, and even in some guesthouses. Don’t be shy—start by offering about 60-70% of the asking price. You’ll often meet in the middle.
• Book on the Right Sites: Use Indian booking apps like RedBus, MakeMyTrip, and Goibibo for deals on buses and hotels. Avoid international portals—they tend to mark up prices for foreigners.
• Travel Off-Season: You’ll pay a lot less for stays and activities in places like Goa, Kerala, and Rishikesh in May-September. Yes, it’s monsoon, but you’ll dodge crowds and find lower prices everywhere.
• Skip the Tourist Traps: Destinations like Hampi, Gokarna, McLeod Ganj, and Pushkar are still way cheaper than the usual hotspots like Agra or Udaipur. You’ll get more authentic vibes too.

Here’s a quick peek at what you can still expect to pay for basic stuff across India in 2025:

If you want to keep India travel cost low but not miss out, focus on markets, cheap eats, and local transport. Splurge just occasionally—a sunrise in Varanasi or a Taj Mahal ticket is totally worth it, even if it’s outside the usual backpacker budget.