Daily costs per person in Indian Rupees (₹). Delhi is one of the world's cheapest capital cities — extraordinary food, history, and culture at prices that barely register.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: INR (Rupee/₹) (1 USD ≈ ₹84)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₹500–1,200 | ₹2,000–4,000 | ₹8,000+ | Hostels → 3-star hotels → luxury hotels |
| Food | ₹200–400 | ₹600–1,200 | ₹2,500+ | Street food → restaurants → fine dining |
| Transport | ₹100–250 | ₹300–600 | ₹1,000+ | Metro & bus → auto/Ola → private car |
| Activities | ₹200–600 | ₹800–1,500 | ₹3,000+ | Free sites + 1–2 monuments → full monument pass → private guides |
| Drinks | ₹50–150 | ₹300–500 | ₹800+ | Chai & lassi → craft beer → cocktail bars |
| Daily Total | ₹1,050–2,600 | ₹4,000–7,800 | ₹15,300+ | $13–31 → $48–93 → $182+ |
Money-saving tips
Street food paradise
Chole bhature ₹80, parathas ₹60, momos ₹40, golgappa ₹40, biryani ₹120. Old Delhi's food lanes serve the best food in India for under ₹200 per day on street food alone.
Metro saves everything
Delhi Metro covers the entire city — ₹10–60 per ride. Get a Smart Card (₹150 incl. ₹100 credit) at any station. Faster, cheaper, and air-conditioned compared to auto-rickshaws in traffic.
Negotiate auto-rickshaws
Always agree on price before boarding an auto. Use the Ola/Uber app for fair pricing (₹50–150 within central Delhi). Never accept a "tour" offered by a driver at the train station.
Monument pass
If visiting 3+ ASI monuments, consider the ₹1,880 Composite Ticket covering Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, and Safdarjung's Tomb — saves ₹400+ over individual tickets.
Free attractions
Akshardham, Lotus Temple, Lodhi Garden, India Gate, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (free langar meal), all mosques, and many museums on certain days are completely free.
Budget accommodation
Paharganj near New Delhi station has hostels from ₹500–800/night. Hauz Khas and Karol Bagh are safer budget areas from ₹1,000–2,000. Always book through apps, never at the door.
