When people ask Is India expensive, a country where a full meal can cost less than $2 and a week-long bike rental runs under $50. It’s not about luxury—it’s about how far your money goes when you’re riding through villages, mountain passes, and temple towns. The answer isn’t yes or no. It’s surprisingly affordable—if you know where to look. Most tourists assume India means high prices because of luxury resorts or fancy restaurants in Goa or Delhi. But those aren’t the real India. The real India is a roadside dhaba where you eat spicy dal and roti for $1, a guesthouse with a fan and clean sheets for $8 a night, and a bike rental that includes helmet, lock, and basic repair tools for less than your daily coffee back home.
Traveling by bike changes everything. You skip tourist traps, avoid inflated hotel rates, and find local deals no guidebook mentions. In Kerala, you can rent a Royal Enfield for $12 a day and ride along backwaters where homestays cost $10. In Ladakh, you’ll pay $5 for a hot meal at a monastery guesthouse and $3 for a warm bed in a shared room. Even in cities like Pune or Ahmedabad, fuel costs less than $1 per liter, and parking is often free. The biggest expenses? Flights in and out, and maybe a few paid temple entry fees. Everything else—food, lodging, transport—is dirt cheap compared to Europe, the US, or even Thailand.
What trips people up isn’t the cost—it’s the expectation. If you expect five-star hotels and Uber everywhere, you’ll think India is expensive. But if you’re okay with shared bathrooms, street food, and riding through dust and rain, your budget stretches further than you think. Many travelers who come for a week end up staying a month because they realize they can live comfortably on $25 a day. And that’s without cutting corners—just living like locals do. This collection of posts breaks down exactly how much you’ll spend on food, bikes, fuel, and stays across South India, North India, and remote routes. You’ll see real numbers from real trips, not guesswork. No fluff. Just what you need to plan your ride without overspending.
Curious if India suits your travel budget? Explore real costs, tips, and facts to make the most out of your trip, whether you want luxury or go backpack-low.