How much does a trip to India cost? -(2026 Price Guide)
The short answer
A trip to India costs most international travellers between USD 40 and USD 300 per person per day, not counting international flights. Backpackers can travel on around USD 40 a day, a comfortable mid-range trip runs about USD 90 to 150 a day, and a private, luxury tour with palace hotels can be USD 300 a day or more. For a typical two-week trip that means roughly USD 1,500 to USD 4,000 per person for a comfortable, well-organised holiday, plus your flights. The rest of this guide breaks down where that money goes and what changes the total.
Table of Contents
India trip cost at a glance
| Style | Per person / day | 1 week | 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget / backpacker | USD 25 to 40 | USD 175 to 280 | USD 350 to 560 |
| Mid-range | USD 90 to 150 | USD 630 to 1,050 | USD 1,260 to 2,100 |
| Private comfort tour | USD 120 to 200 | USD 840 to 1,400 | USD 1,680 to 2,800 |
| Luxury (palace hotels) | USD 300 and up | USD 2,100 and up | USD 4,200 and up |
These figures are per person and exclude international flights. On a private tour the per-person cost falls as your group grows, because the car and driver are shared across your party rather than charged per head.
What a private India tour costs
Most of our guests travel on a private, tailor-made basis, with their own air-conditioned car, driver and licensed guides. As a rough per-person, per-day guide:
- Comfort (good 3 to 4 star hotels): around USD 90 to 140 per person per day.
- Premium (heritage and 5 star hotels): around USD 150 to 250 per person per day.
- Luxury (palace hotels and the finest suites): USD 300 per person per day and up.
A short four-day Golden Triangle trip in comfortable hotels can start from around USD 299 per person. See our India tour packages for examples.
Cost breakdown: where the money goes
| Category | Budget / day | Mid-range / day | Luxury / day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | USD 8 to 20 | USD 50 to 120 | USD 200 and up |
| Transport (private car & driver, shared) | USD 5 to 15 | USD 25 to 45 | USD 50 and up |
| Food | USD 5 to 10 | USD 15 to 30 | USD 40 and up |
| Sightseeing, guides & entry fees | USD 5 to 15 | USD 15 to 35 | USD 40 and up |
| Extras (tips, shopping, SIM) | USD 3 to 8 | USD 8 to 20 | USD 25 and up |
What changes the cost of your India trip
- Hotels. This is the biggest lever by far. The same route can cost three times as much in palace hotels as in comfortable mid-range stays.
- Season. The October to March peak season costs more than the quieter summer and monsoon months, when hotels drop their rates.
- Group size. On a private tour, two people pay more each than a family of four, since the car and driver are shared.
- Region and pace. Long drives and remote regions such as Ladakh add transport cost, while a focused Golden Triangle trip is efficient.
- Private versus group. A fixed group tour is cheaper per head, but you share the coach, the schedule and the guide. A private tour costs more but is yours alone.
Cost by trip length
| Trip length | Mid-range total (pp) | Private comfort total (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Triangle, 4 days | USD 350 to 600 | from USD 299 |
| 1 week | USD 630 to 1,050 | USD 840 to 1,400 |
| 10 days | USD 900 to 1,500 | USD 1,200 to 2,000 |
| 2 weeks | USD 1,260 to 2,100 | USD 1,680 to 2,800 |
| 3 weeks | USD 1,900 to 3,200 | USD 2,500 to 4,200 |
All totals are per person and exclude international flights.
Flights to India
International flights are usually the single biggest line in your budget, and they sit on top of the trip costs above. Rough return economy fares:
- From the USA: USD 900 to 1,600, higher over Christmas and summer.
- From the UK: GBP 500 to 1,000, with direct flights from London to Delhi.
- From Australia: AUD 1,000 to 1,900, usually via a Gulf or Asian hub.
- From Canada: CAD 1,100 to 1,900, often via Europe or the Gulf.
Booking two to four months ahead and travelling in the shoulder season gives the best fares.
Evisa Guide: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
How much cash to bring, and tipping:
India is increasingly cashless in cities, where most shops and cafes take cards or UPI apps, but you still want rupees for tips, small shops, markets and rural areas. Withdraw from an ATM or exchange money after you arrive rather than before. As a rough guide, a few US dollars a day per traveller covers tips for your driver and guides if you are happy with the service, though it is always your choice.
Is India expensive or cheap?
India can be one of the cheapest countries in the world to travel, or a genuine luxury destination, depending entirely on your hotels. Food, local transport and sightseeing are inexpensive by Western standards, so most of your budget goes on where you sleep. That is why the same three-week route can cost one traveller USD 900 and another USD 9,000. The value, whichever way you travel, is high: your money goes a long way here.
Getting the best value on a private tour
A private tour is not the cheapest way to see India, but it is often the best value, because nothing is wasted. You are not paying for a coach seat you do not want, a rushed schedule or a shared guide. We plan the route around you, book hotels at your chosen standard, and send an itemised quote so you can see exactly where every dollar goes, with no hidden costs. Tell us your dates and preferences and we will price it up, usually within 24 hours. Start with a free quote.
Frequently asked questions:
How much does a trip to India cost per day?
Most international travellers spend between USD 40 and USD 300 per person per day in India, excluding international flights. Around USD 40 a day covers budget travel in hostels with local transport, USD 90 to 150 a day covers a comfortable mid-range trip with good hotels and a private car, and USD 300 a day or more buys a luxury trip with palace hotels. The single biggest factor is the standard of hotel you choose, since food, transport and sightseeing are inexpensive by Western standards.
How much does a two week trip to India cost?
A comfortable two-week trip to India costs roughly USD 1,500 to USD 4,000 per person, not counting international flights. A mid-range holiday sits at the lower end, a private tour with good hotels in the middle, and a luxury trip with palace stays well above it. Flights add roughly USD 900 to 1,600 from North America and less from the UK. On a private tour the per-person cost falls as your group grows, since the car and driver are shared across your party.
Is India an expensive country to travel in?
No, India is one of the more affordable countries to travel in, especially for food, local transport and sightseeing. It only becomes expensive if you choose luxury and palace hotels, which is where most of any India budget goes. The same route can cost a backpacker under USD 40 a day and a luxury traveller over USD 300 a day. Whichever way you travel, your money goes a long way, which is part of what makes India such good value.
How much does a Golden Triangle tour cost?
A comfortable two-week trip to India costs roughly USD 1,500 to USD 4,000 per person, not counting international flights. A mid-range holiday sits at the lower end, a private tour with good hotels in the middle, and a luxury trip with palace stays well above it. Flights add roughly USD 900 to 1,600 from North America and less from the UK. On a private tour the per-person cost falls as your group grows, since the car and driver are shared across your party.
Is a private tour or a group tour cheaper in India?
A fixed group tour is cheaper per person, because you share the coach, the driver and the guide with twenty or more other travellers on a set schedule. A private tour costs more per head but is yours alone, with your own car, your own pace and an itinerary built around you. Many travellers find the private option better value overall, since nothing is wasted and the whole trip is planned to suit them rather than a group average.
How much cash should I bring to India?
You do not need to bring much foreign cash. Cities are increasingly cashless, and you withdraw rupees from ATMs or exchange money after you arrive rather than carrying a lot in advance. Keep some rupees on hand for tips, small shops, markets and rural areas. A few US dollars a day per traveller is a fair guide for tipping drivers and guides if you are happy with the service.
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