Maharashtra is India's second-most populous state and a powerhouse of culture, history, and natural beauty. Home to the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, ancient UNESCO World Heritage cave complexes at Ajanta and Ellora, majestic Sahyadri mountain forts, and pristine Konkan coastline beaches, Maharashtra offers an extraordinary diversity of experiences for every type of traveler.
Local currency: Indian Rupee (INR).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Maharashtra.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $6-10/night (dorm bed at Zostel or similar)
- Budget
- $12-20/night (budget guesthouse or MTDC resort)
- Midrange
- $40-90/night (3-star hotel or heritage guesthouse)
- Luxury
- $150-500+/night (5-star hotel like Taj, Oberoi, Ritz-Carlton)
Food
- Street
- $0.20-0.80 (vada pav, misal pav, bhel puri)
- Local
- $1.50-4 (thali at local restaurant, Irani café meal)
- Midrange
- $6-15 (seafood restaurant, modern café, multi-cuisine restaurant)
- Fine
- $30-80 (fine dining at The Table, Peshwari, Khyber)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.20-0.60 (BEST bus in Mumbai, city buses)
- Taxi
- $2-8 (Uber/Ola city ride in Mumbai or Pune)
- Airport
- $5-15 (Ola/Uber to Mumbai airport from city)
- Daytrip
- $8-25 (bus or shared taxi day trip to Lonavala or Alibaug)
Activities
- Museum
- $0.60-1.20 (most Maharashtra archaeological sites)
- Sites
- $3-6 (Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta Caves with ASI entry)
- Tour
- $6-15 (guided walking tour of Mumbai or Pune)
- Excursion
- $20-50 (full-day tour to Ajanta + Ellora or Tadoba safari)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Maharashtra costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$175 for 7 days (hostel accommodation, street food, local transport, free activities)
Midrange traveller
$560 for 7 days (mid-range hotels, restaurant meals, mix of transport, cave entries)
Luxury traveller
$2,100+ for 7 days (5-star hotels, fine dining, private car hire, premium tours)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy a weekly or monthly BEST bus pass in Mumbai for unlimited city bus travel
Travel by local train in Mumbai — it's fast, cheap ($0.30-0.60), and a quintessential experience
Stay at MTDC resorts for government-subsidized rates at beaches and hill stations
Eat at local thali restaurants — unlimited refills for $2-4 is the best value in Maharashtra
Visit Ajanta and Ellora on weekdays to avoid weekend price surges on transport
Use the Metro (Nagpur, Pune) rather than taxis for city travel — much cheaper
Book train tickets on IRCTC at least 60 days in advance for tatkal quota savings
Avoid Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar on weekends when hotels charge 50-80% premiums
Carry water bottles and refill at restaurants to avoid constant bottled water purchases
Look for 'unlimited thali' menus which are always the best food value
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Marine Drive Walk, Mumbai
Stroll the famous seafront promenade and watch the sunset over the Arabian Sea
Gateway of India
View and photograph Mumbai's iconic arch from the waterfront — free entry
Juhu Beach
Relax on Mumbai's famous beach and enjoy sunset and street food
Shivaji Park, Mumbai
A large public park and cricket ground in Dadar, popular with locals
Bandra Bandstand
Walk along the Bandra seafront promenade past Shahrukh Khan's bungalow
Sinhagad Fort Hike
Free entry to the historic Maratha fort with mountain views near Pune
Chowpatty Beach at Sunset
Join Mumbaikars for the nightly sunset ritual at Chowpatty Beach
Flower Market, Dadar
Mumbai's famous wholesale flower market is a colorful, fragrant spectacle every morning
Osho Meditation, Pune (garden walk)
The Osho Meditation Resort gardens are open for a small walk-in fee
Nashik Ghat Walks
Walk the ancient riverfront ghats of Nashik along the Godavari River — free
Pandharpur Ghat
Watch the evening aarti at the Pandharpur Vitthal Temple ghats on the Bhima River