India vacation costs: Real prices for flights, stays, food, and more

When people ask India vacation costs, the total amount a traveler spends on flights, lodging, food, and activities during a trip to India. Also known as India trip budget, it’s not about how much you could spend—it’s about what most people actually pay. The truth? You can travel across India for less than $20 a day and still eat well, stay clean, and see amazing places. But if you want luxury trains, five-star resorts, or private guides, that’s a different number entirely.

What drives the cost? Indian visa fees, the mandatory government charge for entry, currently $160 for US citizens with a 10-year visa are one upfront expense. Then there’s flight prices, the biggest variable, ranging from $700 to $1,500 round-trip from North America depending on season and airline. Once you land, your daily spend depends on where you go. A basic guesthouse in Varanasi costs $8. A beach bungalow in Goa runs $25. A meal at a local stall? $1.50. A three-course dinner at a nice restaurant? $12. And don’t forget transport—train tickets across states can be under $20, while a private driver for a day might run $40.

Some travelers think India is cheap because they’ve heard about backpackers eating for $2. But that’s only part of the story. If you’re flying into Mumbai, staying in a boutique hotel, taking a guided tour of the Taj Mahal, and booking a skydive in Bangalore, your daily cost jumps fast. The key isn’t to avoid spending—it’s to know where your money goes. Budget travel India, planning a trip with clear spending limits on lodging, food, and activities works best when you match your style to your wallet. Want to save? Stick to trains, local food, and public transport. Want comfort? Book ahead, pick mid-range hotels, and skip the tourist traps with inflated prices.

There’s no single number for India vacation costs because no two trips are the same. One person spends $500 for a week in Rajasthan. Another spends $3,000 for two weeks covering Delhi, Goa, and Kerala. Both are right. What matters is knowing what’s possible. Below, you’ll find real breakdowns from travelers who’ve done it—what they paid for flights, where they saved, where they splurged, and how much they actually walked away with in their pockets. No fluff. No guesses. Just the numbers that matter.