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How Much Would It Cost For A Trip To India & When Is The Best Time To Get Great Deals in India? (2024)

India is one of the most beautiful destinations that you can visit. Owing to the vastness of the country, many people believe that it costs a lot of money to visit India. However, India offers some of the best value for money when you decide to plan your trip. There is no doubt that the country is full of surprises. From incredible scenery, rich history and culture, ancient monuments, delicious cuisines, fantastic architecture, and spirituality – India offers something for everyone. Here is a breakdown of how much it would cost for a trip to India and some other tips to get the best deals for your trip.

A trip to India can be inexpensive depending on where you decide to spend the money. There are good value-for-money accommodation options, food, an excellent public transportation network, and deliciously affordable food. The average cost of a seven-day trip to India comes to around $1,294 for a solo traveler. For a couple, it comes to about $2,281, while for a family of four costs $1,118.

Hotel Costs in India

The hotel rates in India can range from $29 to anywhere to $138 per night. The average rate for a hotel room per night is $51. However, you can opt for cheaper accommodations as well. There are some great deals you can get on rooms in India, and many beautiful guesthouses and small boutique hotels offer rooms that cost under $10 per night.

If you increase your budget to $15-20 per night, you will find a significant increase in the service and quality of your room. You can get a room with a private bathroom, a bigger bed, air conditioning, and television in this budget.

There are many hostels or cheaper hotels in India that cost around $9-20 per night for the budget traveler or backpacker. In this budget, you will get a clean and simple room or a nice dorm bed. Breakfast may sometimes be included, but it’s not necessary. In the last decade, more than a hundred hostels have opened up in India. These hostels are clean, safe and often offer great activities to tourists. 

Going before $3-4 per night might get you accommodation, but the safety and cleanliness of such a place are likely to be questionable. Only book such affordable accommodations after personally inspecting the condition.

If you want to live in luxury, well, then the sky’s the limit in India. The other name for luxury in India when it comes to luxurious high-end resorts and hotels. From heritage hotels to palaces that have been converted into hotels, you can find many beautiful and elegant hotels that can cost $500 and upwards per night. In Goa, many spectacular luxury beach resorts can cost you anywhere between $500 to $750.

How Much Does It Cost To Fly To India?

On average, flights to India from most of the significant airports of the world cost between $1,000 to $1,500 per person for economy class and $3,200 to $5,000 for first or business class. It is best to check online or contact a tour operator to get customized flight pricing for getting an exact quotation.

Cost of Traveling Inside India

It is important to remember that India is a massive country, and to get from one state to another, it is best to use the Indian Railways network that is one of the largest in the world. Trains are a great and affordable way of traveling inside India. However, you need to book your tickets beforehand as specific routes may get sold out very quickly. During festival season, especially, it might not be easy to get a seat on a train if you don’t book early. In such cases, you can take a bus.

Local transport like autorickshaws or tuk-tuks are very affordable and a great way to travel within cities. You can keep roughly $10-15 for transportation expenses per day. If you want to travel comfortably, you can rent a cab or hire a driver for much of your travel. However, hiring a taxi for the entire day will be expensive.

India also has a well-connected network of domestic flights, and if you don’t prefer to spend the night journeying on trains, you can always opt to take a flight for longer distances.

India also has an excellent bus network. Most people choose to take a bus for shorter distances or reach towns that do not have a railway station. You get all types of buses here. Some come with air conditioning, and some don’t. The cheaper buses without air conditioning can cost around $0.15 per hour for long distances. Of course, bus fare goes up if you want to book on a luxurious bus. You can check out websites like RedBus to reserve a seat on a Volvo bus. Most journeys cost around $1 per hour, depending on the distance.

Cost of Food in India

Indian food is known worldwide for its delicious taste, and of course, spicy flavors. A kaleidoscope of flavors goes off in your mouth when you try out Indian delicacies. At the same time, food in India is also highly affordable for travelers. Many meals even cost less than a dollar.

If you want to control the amount spent on food, keep your eyes open for offers on lunch and dinner thalis. Thalis are set meals that come with a variety of curries and are usually an all-you-can-eat offer. These tend to vary from restaurant to restaurant, but you can usually get it for less than $2.

If you go to a fancy sit-down restaurant, the typical cost will be around $3-5 for a curry with rice and roti (Indian bread).

If you eat at local restaurants, you can get breakfast and a cup of coffee or tea for just $1 per person. However, meals at nicer upmarket restaurants can cost you over $5 per meal per person. This price is without alcohol.

Going to fine dining restaurants in India or eating at 5-star hotels can easily cost anywhere between $15-50 per meal per person.

It is best to avoid eating at very cheap restaurants as well unless you verify the hygiene of the place. Remember that food and unclean water are some of the fastest ways to get sick. To reduce this risk, avoid eating at restaurants that are deserted. Eat at places that are crowded. Be prepared to explore the town, especially if you are in a smaller town. The roadside eateries that you find on the highways are known for serving delicious fares, and the cost is also very low.

Don’t Forget the Monument Entry Fees

This is an expense that many travelers often forget about. In India, you need to pay different entrance fees to tour the many attractive monuments in various cities.

However, the entrance fees are different for foreigners and Indian citizens. Foreigners have to pay nearly double the ticket price. Children under the age of 15 years usually enter free at most monuments. Furthermore, if you have a valid student ID, you can avail of some great discounts for entrance fees.

It is best to separately keep $80 per person for monument fees when in India. However, you might find yourself having to spend more at places like Agra, Jaipur, or Delhi as there are many places to see in these cities. There are fewer monuments to see in places like Kerala or Goa, and you will be spending more on activities or regular sightseeing.

At the same time, remember that you will be spending some money on shopping, buying beverages while touring, the occasional tip, and many other miscellaneous things. So it is a good idea to keep some money aside for these expenditures.

When Is The Best Time To Get Great Deals On Visiting India?

The best time to visit India if you want to get some great deals and offers is during the monsoon season and off-season. The monsoon season is from mid-June to September, while the off-season lasts from the start of May to the end of September. During this period, many tour operators offer some of the best deals, and you can save a lot of money by planning your tour at this time.

The biggest tip to save money while traveling to India is to bargain. You should bargain for almost everything, unless the price is listed. You are always free to negotiate a better price, and in fact, most shopkeepers will expect you to do so. If you reach a stalemate while bargaining, simply decline the shopkeeper’s offer and walk away. You will be surprised to find that most vendors will call you back, willing to sell you the item at a lower price.

At the end of the day, remember that no matter how much you pay, even if it’s a bit extra, you are in the magical land of India, and don’t let such things ruin this incredible trip for you.

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