Travel Budget: How to Plan a Cheap Trip to India Without Sacrificing Experience

When you think about a travel budget, the total amount of money you plan to spend on a trip, including transport, food, stays, and activities. Also known as trip cost, it’s not about how little you spend—it’s about how wisely you spend it. India doesn’t have to cost a fortune to feel like an unforgettable adventure. Many travelers assume it’s either luxury palaces or bare-bones hostels, but the truth is, you can have rich cultural experiences, tasty food, and wild jungle camps without draining your savings.

Your travel budget, the total amount of money you plan to spend on a trip, including transport, food, stays, and activities. Also known as trip cost, it’s not about how little you spend—it’s about how wisely you spend it. doesn’t have to be broken by visa fees, overpriced tours, or tourist traps. The Indian visa cost for U.S. citizens in 2025 is under $100 for an e-visa, and you can find clean, safe guesthouses for as little as $10 a night outside major cities. Street food, often the highlight of any India trip, won’t cost more than a few dollars a meal—if you pick busy stalls with high turnover. And if you’re thinking about trekking, hiring a local guide in places like Kedarkantha or Markha Valley doesn’t have to be expensive—it’s often cheaper than booking a packaged tour and gives you real insight you won’t find in guidebooks.

Transport is where most budgets blow up. Trains in India are cheap, reliable, and connect almost every major destination. A sleeper class ticket from Delhi to Jaipur? Less than $15. Skip domestic flights unless you’re short on time. For shorter hops, local buses or shared taxis are the way to go. Even in Goa, where Uber is available, local auto-rickshaws are cheaper and more flexible. You don’t need to rent a car—India’s public transport is built for travelers on a budget.

And here’s the secret most people miss: the best experiences in India aren’t ticketed. Watching the sunrise over the Taj Mahal before the crowds? Free if you arrive early. Sitting by a temple step in Varanasi as chants echo through the air? No entry fee. Trekking the Great Himalayan Trail? You don’t need a luxury outfitter—just good boots, a map, and local advice. The budget travel India, a style of travel focused on minimizing expenses while maximizing authentic experiences. Also known as low-cost India trip, it thrives on flexibility and local connections. isn’t about skipping the good stuff—it’s about skipping the middlemen.

Health and safety don’t have to cost extra either. A few basic vaccines—like typhoid and hepatitis A—cost less than $100 total and prevent costly hospital visits. Drinking bottled water and eating from busy food stalls keeps your stomach happy. You don’t need travel insurance that covers everything—just something that covers emergencies and lost baggage.

What you’ll find below are real, tested ways people are saving money while still seeing the soul of India. From how much to set aside for jungle camps near Nagpur to why skipping the Pride of Africa train ride might actually be the smartest budget move, every post here is built for travelers who want depth without debt. No fluff. No hype. Just what works.