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Delhi Travel Cost Guide 2026

From budget $25/day to luxury $170/day — full daily expense breakdown

Delhi can be done on a wide range of budgets. Hostels, local restaurants, and public transport keep daily costs around $25 / ¥3,750. A 3-star hotel with sit-down meals averages $55 / ¥8,250. Luxury travelers in 4-5 star hotels with fine dining should expect $170 / ¥25,500+ per day. Below: detailed breakdown by category, total budgets for 3/5/7-day trips, and local saving tips.

Daily Budget at a Glance

Per person, per day for Delhi in three travel styles.

Budget
$25
¥3,750 · per day
  • Accommodation$10
  • Food$8
  • Transport$3
  • Activities$4
Hostels, dorm rooms, local eateries, public transit
Most Popular
Mid-Range
$55
¥8,250 · per day
  • Accommodation$22
  • Food$15
  • Transport$8
  • Activities$10
3-star hotels, sit-down restaurants, mix of transit and taxis
Luxury
$170
¥25,500 · per day
  • Accommodation$90
  • Food$35
  • Transport$15
  • Activities$30
4-5 star hotels, fine dining, private transport and tours

Delhi is among cheapest tourist cities globally. Stay in Connaught Place for transport hub or Aerocity for 5-star + airport access. Auto-rickshaw INR 200-500 ($2.50-6.50). Pre-book Red Fort + Humayun's Tomb online to skip queues.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Per person, per day in USD (Japanese yen equivalent in parentheses).

Category Budget Mid-Range Luxury
Accommodation $10 $22 $90
Food $8 $15 $35
Transport $3 $8 $15
Activities & Attractions $4 $10 $30
Daily Total $25 $55 $170

Total Trip Cost by Duration

Including round-trip flight estimate · per person · estimated flights: $700-1,500 from US/EU; $400-800 from Asia (DEL direct from Tokyo/Bangkok/Seoul)

3-Day Trip 3 nights
Budget
$100
Mid-Range
$230
Luxury
$750
5-Day Trip 5 nights
Budget
$160
Mid-Range
$360
Luxury
$1,200
7-Day Trip 7 nights
Budget
$220
Mid-Range
$490
Luxury
$1,650

* Flight prices vary widely by origin and booking timing. Numbers above are average return economy fares.

How Does It Compare?

Mid-range daily cost compared to other popular destinations.

City
Daily (mid-range)
vs Delhi
Mumbai
$70
Delhi is ~64% cheaper
Agra
$45
Delhi is ~44% cheaper
Jaipur
$35
Delhi is ~29% cheaper
Varanasi
$30
Delhi is ~17% cheaper
Bangkok
$80
Delhi is ~69% cheaper
Kathmandu
$30
Delhi is ~17% cheaper

* Exchange rates as of April 2026. Mid-range daily cost per traveler.

Payment & Money

How to pay and what to know about money in Delhi.

Currency

INR (Indian Rupee).

Card Acceptance

5-star hotels + chains. Cash for everything else.

Tipping

10-15% at restaurants + ₹100-200 for guides.

ATM

ICICI + HDFC + SBI free with most foreign cards.

Recommended Tours & Activities

Booking tours in advance is typically 15-30% cheaper than walk-up rates.

Delhi Hotel Search

Find rooms in your style — budget $10 to luxury $90+ per night.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a day in Delhi cost?
It depends heavily on travel style. Budget travelers using hostels, local restaurants, and public transport spend around $25 / ¥3,750 per day. Mid-range travelers in 3-star hotels with sit-down meals run $55 / ¥8,250. Luxury travelers in 4-5 star hotels with fine dining should expect $170 / ¥25,500+ per day. Accommodation (budget $10 / mid $22 / luxury $90) is the largest single cost.

What's the budget for a one-week trip to Delhi?
Including round-trip flights, 7 days runs: budget $220, mid-range $490, luxury $1,650. Average return flights: $700-1,500 from US/EU; $400-800 from Asia (DEL direct from Tokyo/Bangkok/Seoul) (varies by origin and booking timing). Excluding flights, the on-the-ground total (lodging + food + transport + activities) for 7 days: budget $175, mid-range $385.

What's the biggest expense in Delhi?
For mid-range travel, accommodation is the biggest cost at $22 / ¥3,300/day. Order: accommodation $22, food $15, transport $8, activities $10.

Where should I exchange money for Delhi?
INR for everything. ATMs at hotels + airport. Cards at 5-star + chains.

Do I need to tip in Delhi?
Tipping practices vary widely by country. Check the cultural tips section for Delhi specifics. Generally: 10-15% in restaurants where it's expected, round up taxi fares, small tip per bag for hotel porters.

How can I save money on transport in Delhi?
Use public transit (subway/bus) to keep transport at $3 / ¥450/day. Day passes and IC cards offer discounts vs single tickets. Use ride apps (Uber, local equivalents) instead of street taxis to avoid overcharging.

Where can I eat cheaply in Delhi?
Local markets, family-run restaurants, and convenience stores can keep food costs at $8 / ¥1,200/day. Tourist-zone restaurants often run 2-3x what you'd pay 10 minutes away. Look for places where locals eat.

Is Delhi expensive overall?
It's one of the most affordable major cities in the world. Budget travelers can do it on $25 / ¥3,750 per day. The big variables are accommodation ($10–$90), food ($8–$35), and transport ($3–$8) — your style choices matter more than the destination.

Why you can trust cost guide

Jimmy Kong TripPick founder · Travel content creator

Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.

8+ years analyzing travel data 30+ countries visited Live exchange rate verified
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