Quick verdict: India is the world’s cheapest major travel country — $15/day backpacker possible, $30/day comfortable. Most refined culture for the lowest prices on Earth.
6 best budget spots in India
Goa Backpacker Hostels
Beach budget
$8-25/night beach hostels in Anjuna + Vagator. Best Indian beach for budget travelers + Western comforts.
Rishikesh Yoga Capital
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Spiritual budget
$5-20/night ashrams + yoga retreats. Sometimes free if attending yoga teacher training. Ganges-side budget bliss.
Varanasi Ghats
Cheap spiritual
$5-25/night. Cheap river-side guesthouses. Most spiritually intense Indian destination.
Hampi Boulder City
Off-beaten budget
$8-25/night. Vijayanagara Empire ruins + boulder landscape. Quieter than Rajasthan tourist routes.
Delhi Paharganj
Budget capital
$5-25/night. Backpacker district adjacent to New Delhi station. Cheap food + travel transit hub.
Indian Trains
Cheapest transit
Sleeper class trains 2nd-class $5-15 for 12-hour overnight. AC2 + AC3 sleeper $25-60. Better booked through 12go.asia.
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Frequently asked questions
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Updated 2026. Some links on Packzup are affiliate links.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.