How Much Does a 30-Day India Trip Cost? (Our $10,000+ Budget Breakdown)
We spent 30 incredible days traveling through 13 cities in India, completely focusing our itinerary on comfort, local immersion, and checking off bucket-list experiences we’ve dreamed about for years!
Bouncing between regions, booking an all-inclusive tiger safari, choosing quality local restaurants, and opting for boutique stays adds up quickly. This definitely wasn’t a bare-bones backpacking itinerary, but it was worth every penny. We tracked every single dollar during our journey so we could share what a couples trip here actually costs!
All costs below are listed in USD.
The Itinerary: 13 Cities in 30 Days
To give context on our pacing and transportation expenses, here is the exact route we covered over our month-long trip:
- North India: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Nagpur, Pench
- The Hubs: Mumbai, Goa
- South India (Kerala): Kochi, Alleppey, Kadalikad, Kumarakom, Kovalam
The Cost Breakdown: Where the Money Actually Went
1. Transportation (Planes, Trains, & Private Cars)
Moving smoothly between 13 different cities required a lot of logistical planning. Our itinerary included taking 6 regional flights (including our flight into India from Kathmandu), 2 scenic train rides, and hiring 6 private drivers to get us comfortably from place to place.
We explicitly chose private drivers over long-distance buses because safety and comfort were our top priorities. While a few drives ended up taking twice as long as expected due to local traffic, the convenience was unbeatable and it was still highly cost-effective compared to flying every single leg.
| Mode | Routes | Avg Cost/person | Notes |
| Flights (6x) | Kathmandu – Delhi, Jaipur – Udaipur, Udaipur – Nagpur, Nagpur – Mumbai, Mumbai – Goa, Goa – Kochi | $126 | +$45 per person in excess luggage fees |
| Trains (2x) | Delhi – Agra, Alleppey – Kovalam | $15 | First-class booked in advance |
| Private Drivers (6x) | Agra – Jaipur, Nagpur – Pench National Park (x2), Kochi – Kadalikad, Kadalikad – Kumarakom, Kumarakom – Alleppey | $70/leg | Used Uber where available locally |
Total Transportation Cost: $2,614 (includes $550 in excess airline luggage fees)
2. Accommodations
We stayed in a wide variety of properties, ranging from modern hotels near major transit hubs to peaceful oceanfront beach huts and stunning historical mansions.
Here is the exact directory of the hotels we booked across our 30-day route:
| City | Hotel Name | Nights | Cost per Night |
| Delhi | Aloft Aerocity | 2 | $170 |
| Agra | ITC Mughal | 2 | $143 |
| Jaipur | Umaid Mahal | 4 | $55 |
| Udaipur | Shakuntalam Sagar | 4 | $102 |
| Nagpur | Le Meridien | 2 | $99 |
| Pench National Park | Pench Tree Lodge | 2 | See Pench Guide |
| Goa | Anahata Retreat | 3 | $193 |
| Kadalikad | Lachus Homestay | 2 | $120 |
| Kochi | Fort Muziris | 1 | $75 |
| Alleppey | 1 | $160 | |
| Kumarakom | Niraamaya Backwaters & Beyond | 2 | $169 |
| Kovalam | Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel | 4 | $193 |
Total Lodging Cost: $3,820
3. Food & Dining
Since we only stayed in hotels, we had to eat out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day. While we prioritized high-quality, authentic local restaurants we also mixed in a few unforgettable fine dining date nights!
Our three most memorable culinary experiences came from these standout spots:
- Avatara (Mumbai): An award-winning 16-course pure vegetarian tasting menu that redefines Indian cuisine – $283
- The Johri (Jaipur): An incredible boutique dining experience focused on fresh vegetarian ingredients – $130
- Anahata Retreat Restaurant (Goa): Incredible beachfront meals right at our hotel over a relaxing 4-day stay – $143
Total Food Cost: $884 (An average of $29 per day for two people!)
4. Bucket-List Experiences
One of our absolute biggest priorities for this journey was going on a tiger safari and aligning ourselves with top-tier naturalists and guides. The overwhelming majority of this budget went toward our premium, all-inclusive safari lodge package in Pench, with the remaining balance covering our historical palace entries, immersive food tours, and regional cooking classes.
If you are planning your own itinerary, these were our absolute favorite tours and classes that were worth every single dollar:
- Delhi Street Food Tour – A fantastic, safe way to enjoy street food in Delhi while learning all about the local history and culture – $74
- Udaipur Cooking Class – An immersive Indian cooking class in a beautiful local home, where we learned all the insider tips and tricks that make homemade Indian dishes so incredibly tasty – $62
The Experience Cost Breakdown:
- Pench Safari Lodge, Naturalist, & Core Zone Permits: $1,410
- All Monument Entries, Palace Tours, & Activity Guides: $862
Total Experience Cost: $2,272 (Curious about how the safari worked? Check out our Full Pench Tiger Safari Guide Here for the complete breakdown!)
5. Miscellaneous (Tuk-Tuks, Guides, & Shopping)
When you are traveling for 30 full days, the small day-to-day costs inevitably add up. This category captures everything from quick tuk-tuk rides through cities, to hiring certified on-the-spot guides at palaces, processing our entry visas, and tipping the hospitality staff who took care of us. It also includes the costs for the beautiful, handmade textiles and local souvenirs we purchased.
- Local Shopping & Handmade Textiles: $647
- Entry Visas, Cash Tips, and On-the-Ground Incidentals: $315
Total Misc Cost: $1,015
Final Cost Breakdown:
Here is the complete category breakdown of everything we spent traveling comfortably through India for 30 days:
| Category | Cost | Per Day |
| Accommodation | $3,820 | $127 |
| Transportation | $2,614 | $87 |
| Experiences* | $2,272 | $76 |
| Food & Dining | $884 | $29 |
| Misc | $1,015 | $34 |
| Total | $10,605 | $354 |
*Includes $1,410 for Tiger Safari. We wrote a guide about how it went (Linked Here)
By spending an average of $354 a day as a couple, we were able to completely immerse ourselves in India and have an awesome trip that gave us memories to last a lifetime!
This post contains affiliate links for the things we experienced and loved. If you make a purchase or book directly through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the blog running! 🙂
