Delhi, India's sprawling capital territory, is a city where ancient monuments stand beside ultramodern malls and Mughal gardens shadow gleaming corporate towers. As one of the world's most populous cities, Delhi offers an intoxicating blend of history spanning 3,000 years, from Iron Age settlements to British colonial architecture. The city serves as the political, cultural, and commercial heart of India, drawing millions of visitors annually to its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, vibrant street food scene, and legendary bazaars.
Local currency: Indian Rupee.
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Delhi.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel Dorm
- Price $8-12, Inr ₹665-1,000, Examples Zostel Delhi, Moustache Hostel
- Budget Guesthouse Private
- Price $15-30, Inr ₹1,245-2,490, Examples Ajay Guest House, Hotel Namaskar
- Heritage Budget Hotel
- Price $40-70, Inr ₹3,320-5,810, Examples Hotel Broadway, Maidens Hotel
- Mid Range 3star
- Price $50-100, Inr ₹4,150-8,300, Examples Bloomrooms, The Park New Delhi
- Upscale 4star
- Price $100-180, Inr ₹8,300-14,940, Examples ibis Aerocity, Radisson Blu Airport
- Luxury 5star
- Price $200-500, Inr ₹16,600-41,500, Examples The Imperial, Taj Mahal Hotel
- Ultra Luxury
- Price $400-800, Inr ₹33,200-66,400, Examples The Oberoi, The Leela Palace
Food
- Street Food Single Item
- Price $0.50-1.50, Inr ₹40-125, Examples Gol gappa, aloo tikki, single paratha
- Street Food Full Meal
- Price $1.50-3, Inr ₹125-250, Examples Thali at dhaba, paratha with lassi
- Local Restaurant Meal
- Price $3-8, Inr ₹250-665, Examples Karim's, Moti Mahal, Sagar Ratna
- Mid Range Restaurant
- Price $10-25, Inr ₹830-2,075, Examples Smoke House Deli, Social, Zaffran
- Upscale Restaurant
- Price $25-60, Inr ₹2,075-4,980, Examples Olive, China Kitchen, Varq
- Fine Dining
- Price $60-120, Inr ₹4,980-9,960, Examples Indian Accent, Bukhara, Dum Pukht
- Beer At Bar
- Price $3-6, Inr ₹250-500
- Cocktail At Bar
- Price $5-12, Inr ₹415-1,000
- Cup Of Chai
- Price $0.10-0.30, Inr ₹8-25
- Coffee Cafe
- Price $2-4, Inr ₹165-332
- Bottled Water 1l
- Price $0.25, Inr ₹20-30
Transport
- Metro Single Journey
- Price $0.12-0.72, Inr ₹10-60, Note Based on distance
- Metro Tourist Card 1day
- Price $1.80, Inr ₹150, Note Unlimited rides for 1 day
- Metro Tourist Card 3day
- Price $6, Inr ₹500, Note Unlimited rides for 3 days
- Auto Rickshaw Short Trip
- Price $0.60-1.50, Inr ₹50-125, Note 3-5 km journey
- Auto Rickshaw Meter
- Price $0.10/km + $0.25 flag fall, Inr ₹8/km + ₹25 flagfall
- Uber Short Trip
- Price $1.50-3, Inr ₹125-250, Note 3-5 km UberGo
- Uber Medium Trip
- Price $3-7, Inr ₹250-580, Note 5-15 km
- Uber Airport To Cp
- Price $10-15, Inr ₹830-1,245
- Prepaid Taxi Airport
- Price $12-18, Inr ₹1,000-1,500, Note Official counter at IGI Airport
- Airport Metro Express
- Price $1.50, Inr ₹130, Note Airport to New Delhi Station
- Cycle Rickshaw
- Price $0.36-0.72, Inr ₹30-60, Note For short Old Delhi trips
- Private Car Hire Full Day
- Price $30-50, Inr ₹2,490-4,150, Note 8 hours with driver
- Private Car Hire Luxury
- Price $60-100, Inr ₹4,980-8,300, Note A/C luxury vehicle with driver
Activities
- Red Fort Entry
- Price $4 (₹350), Inr ₹350, Note Foreign nationals
- Qutub Minar Entry
- Price $3.50 (₹300), Inr ₹300
- Humayuns Tomb Entry
- Price $3.50 (₹300), Inr ₹300
- Purana Qila Entry
- Price $1.50 (₹120), Inr ₹120
- Safdarjungs Tomb Entry
- Price $1.50 (₹120), Inr ₹120
- National Museum Entry
- Price $1 (₹80), Inr ₹80
- National Gallery Modern Art
- Price $0.60 (₹50), Inr ₹50
- Delhi Zoo Entry
- Price $0.95 (₹80), Inr ₹80
- Dilli Haat Entry
- Price $0.60 (₹50), Inr ₹50
- Akshardham Exhibitions
- Price $3-5 (₹250-430), Inr ₹250-430
- Red Fort Sound Light Show
- Price $2 (₹150), Inr ₹150
- Old Delhi Food Walk
- Price $15-25 (₹1,250-2,075), Note Guided group food walk
- Private Heritage Tour Half Day
- Price $40-60, Inr ₹3,320-4,980, Note With licensed guide
- Private Heritage Tour Full Day
- Price $60-100, Inr ₹4,980-8,300
- Cooking Class
- Price $25-50, Inr ₹2,075-4,150, Note Half-day class with lunch
- Yoga Class
- Price $5-15, Inr ₹415-1,245
- Spa Treatment 1 Hour
- Price $15-30 (mid-range), Inr ₹1,245-2,490
- Spa Treatment Luxury Hotel
- Price $80-200, Inr ₹6,640-16,600
Shopping
- Souvenir Fridge Magnet
- Price $0.50-2, Inr ₹40-165
- Pashmina Shawl Genuine
- Price $30-150, Inr ₹2,490-12,450
- Pashmina Tourist Grade
- Price $5-15, Inr ₹415-1,245
- Block Print Cotton Kurta
- Price $8-25, Inr ₹665-2,075
- Hand Embroidered Cushion Cover
- Price $10-30, Inr ₹830-2,490
- Miniature Painting
- Price $20-200, Inr ₹1,660-16,600, Note Depending on size and quality
- Spice Set
- Price $5-15, Inr ₹415-1,245
- Marble Inlay Box Taj Replica
- Price $15-100, Inr ₹1,245-8,300
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Delhi costs end-to-end.
3 Day Budget traveller
Accommodation 3nights $45 (₹3,735) - hostel dorm, Food $30 (₹2,490) - street food and local restaurants, Transport $15 (₹1,245) - Metro 3-day card + autos, Activities $20 (₹1,660) - mix of paid and free monuments, Total $110 (₹9,130)
3 Day Midrange traveller
Accommodation 3nights $180 (₹14,940) - 3-star hotel, Food $90 (₹7,470) - restaurants and some fine dining, Transport $45 (₹3,735) - Uber/Ola + Metro, Activities $50 (₹4,150) - monuments and guided tour, Total $365 (₹30,295)
7 Day Budget traveller
Accommodation 7nights $105 (₹8,715) - hostel dorm, Food $70 (₹5,810) - street food and local restaurants, Transport $35 (₹2,905) - Metro + autos, Activities $45 (₹3,735) - monuments and day trips, Total $255 (₹21,165)
7 Day Midrange traveller
Accommodation 7nights $420 (₹34,860) - mid-range hotel, Food $210 (₹17,430) - mix of restaurants, Transport $100 (₹8,300) - Uber/Metro mix, Activities $120 (₹9,960) - monuments, tours, day trip to Agra, Total $850 (₹70,550)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy the ASI Composite Ticket ($7.50/₹600 for foreign nationals) covering entry to Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Purana Qila, Safdarjung's Tomb, and other ASI monuments - it saves money versus buying individual tickets.
Use the Delhi Metro rather than taxis for most journeys. A 3-day Tourist Card ($6/₹500) offers unlimited rides and is far cheaper than Uber or auto-rickshaws for frequent travelers.
Eat at dhabas and local restaurants away from tourist zones. The same meal costs 3-4x more at Connaught Place versus a local market a 10-minute Metro ride away.
Andhra Bhavan Canteen serves the best-value quality meal in Delhi - an unlimited authentic Andhra thali for just $3/₹250.
Many of Delhi's greatest attractions are entirely free: India Gate, Lotus Temple, Raj Ghat, Gandhi Smriti, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Lodi Garden, and the Agrasen ki Baoli.
Negotiate auto-rickshaw fares in advance (or insist on the meter). Agree on a price before boarding - drivers near monuments often quote 3-4x the fair fare.
Book accommodation and flights as early as possible for December-January travel, when Delhi prices peak and availability is limited.
Drink chai (₹8-25/$0.10-0.30) instead of coffee (₹165-332/$2-4) throughout the day - it is better, more authentic, and costs 10-20 times less.
Shop in local markets (Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Chandni Chowk) rather than tourist-oriented shops. Bargaining is expected and significant discounts are achievable.
Take the Airport Metro Express ($1.50/₹130) from IGI Airport to central Delhi rather than a taxi ($12-18) - it takes 20 minutes and is far cheaper.
Visit monuments on their free days - the Archaeological Survey of India offers free entry on certain public holidays, and some sites have free hours on specific days.
Many luxury hotel restaurants offer excellent lunch menus at significantly lower prices than dinner - a set lunch at Bukhara or Indian Accent can be 30-40% cheaper than dinner.
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
India Gate
Walk around the iconic war memorial and surrounding Kartavya Path gardens, especially beautiful at sunset and when illuminated at night
Lodi Garden
Stroll through 90 acres of beautifully maintained garden with 15th-century Lodi dynasty tombs, ideal for morning walks or evening relaxation
Lotus Temple
Visit the stunning Baha'i House of Worship shaped like a blooming lotus - admission is completely free
Jama Masjid (exterior and courtyard)
India's largest mosque can be visited freely (camera fee applies). The courtyard and architecture are magnificent
Raj Ghat
The simple memorial marking the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi on the Yamuna River bank - free and deeply moving
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
One of Delhi's most beautiful Sikh shrines, free to visit. Free langar (community meal) available to all visitors
Gandhi Smriti
The house where Gandhi was assassinated, maintained as a free museum - one of Delhi's most moving historical sites
Connaught Place (exploring)
Walk the colonial colonnades of CP, browse bookshops, people-watch, and explore the surrounding streets - free and endlessly interesting
Chandni Chowk (walking)
Exploring the 400-year-old market of Old Delhi is free - the sounds, smells, and sights are the experience
Agrasen ki Baoli
Ancient stepwell hidden near Connaught Place - completely free, dramatically photogenic, and almost tourist-free
Rashtrapati Bhavan Exterior Walk
The grand Lutyens-designed presidential palace can be viewed and photographed from Rajpath at no charge
Sunder Nursery
Beautifully restored 16th-century heritage garden adjacent to Humayun's Tomb - minimal entry fee (₹50/$0.60)
Nehru Park
Large green park in Chanakyapuri with open-air cultural events and concerts, particularly on Sunday mornings
Mehrauli Archaeological Park
440+ medieval monuments in a free-entry forested park next to Qutub Minar - virtually no crowds