India uses the Indian Rupee (INR, ₹), and it is a closed currency: you cannot buy it before you leave home. Cards work in hotels and shops, ATMs are everywhere and the country has gone cashless faster than almost anywhere else, yet small cash is still essential for markets, tips and rickshaws. Here is how to manage your money, and what things actually cost.
Getting rupees
- ATMs at the airport and in every city dispense up to ₹10,000 per withdrawal; the ATM fee is around ₹200 plus your bank's charge.
- Exchange counters accept US dollars, euros and pounds; keep the receipt if you want to change rupees back.
- Bring new, undamaged notes – torn or old-series foreign banknotes are refused.
- Ask for small denominations (₹100 and ₹200 notes); nobody can change a ₹2,000 note at a tea stall.
Cards and digital payments
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger shops. Tell your bank you are travelling and carry a second card as backup. India's UPI instant-payment system is used by every vendor with a QR code, and foreign tourists can now get a prepaid UPI wallet at the airport by registering their passport and visa – ask us for details on arrival.
What things cost
Our tours include hotels, transport, guides, entrance fees and breakfast, so your daily spending is mainly meals, drinks, tips and shopping. Typical prices in 2026:
| Item | Typical price (INR) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Cup of chai at a stall | ₹15 – 30 | $0.20 – 0.40 |
| Thali lunch in a local restaurant | ₹150 – 300 | $2 – 4 |
| Dinner for two in a good restaurant | ₹1,500 – 3,000 | $18 – 36 |
| Bottle of water (1 litre) | ₹20 – 40 | $0.25 – 0.50 |
| Auto-rickshaw, 3 km | ₹60 – 120 | $0.75 – 1.50 |
| Taj Mahal entrance (foreigner) | ₹1,300 | $16 |
| Pashmina shawl (genuine) | ₹6,000 – 20,000 | $70 – 240 |
Budget $20 to $40 per person per day for meals and incidentals on our tours, more if you shop.
Tipping guide
- Restaurants: 10% if no service charge is added.
- Hotel porters: ₹100 – 200 per bag.
- Driver: ₹500 – 800 per day, given at the end of the tour.
- Local guide: ₹500 – 1,000 per day.
- Houseboat crew / safari naturalist: ₹500 – 1,000 per group per day.
Tips are a significant part of income for the people who look after you, and they are always appreciated but never compulsory.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Tours are priced in US dollars, and we can invoice in EUR or GBP at the exchange rate of the day. Payment is by bank transfer or card.
Legally you may carry up to ₹25,000 out of the country, but it is better to spend or exchange them before you leave.
Still have questions? Our team answers within one working day. Call +44 7915 382603, write to contact@visit-to-india.com or see the FAQ.