[fizziona]

Heya, I'm a British student intending to backpack around India for about six months (finances allowing).

I just wondered how much per month I could survive on, if I am willing to live basically.  

Thanksxxx

Fizziona

[cyberhippie]

If your willing to camp out in the cheapest rooms from 100-200 (don't worry they're not all as bad as you've heard) eat local food, with only the occasional touristy restaurant then you can live very cheaply indeed!!
Bear in mind living cheaply in India is much the same as everywhere else, you'll miss out on home comforts like thick mattresses, Air Con, AC class train travel, you will have the occasional dodgy hotel (I've never found this a problem I've nearly always managed to find a clean cheapie for 250 or less, in heavily touristed areas it's always possible to run down a cheap guest house with single rooms from 100-200 (some with attached toilet most with shared toilet!) of course some places this just ain't possible so be prepared to lash out 500-600 or more to get a room in a few places!! Also eating cheap can sometimes deprive you of essential vitamens etc, buy fruit and vitamin supplements which are as cheap as chips!!
Eating local food is the way to stay on budget, however it may take you a while to get used to local food, some never do, eating western food will undoubtably quadruple your food bills at least!
So bearing the above in mind here's a cyberhippie guide to doing it on the cheap!!

I reckon a budget 0f 600 rupees carefully managed you can see India and enjoy it!!

Breakfast
Puri bhaji/idli sambar/parotha 10 rupees
Chai x 3 9 rupees
Orange juice 15 rupees

Lunch
Samosas or Masala Dosa 20 rupees
lemon soda (local soda) 6 rupees
Apple 10 rupees

Dinner
Thali all you can eat 25 rupees
Chai x 3 9 rupees

Three mineral water 36 rupees

Hotel 200 rupees

Grand total 340 rupees, this leaves you with 240 rupees a day for travel and monuments you might want to see, if you don't travel everyday, and don't visit a monument everyday this is ample.

You've also got a bit of spare in there should you hang around somewhere for a while you'll be able to have a beer by a book (then swop it)

This is a practical guide not a recommendation some can travel this way and have the trip of a lifetime, others do the same and are miserable for 6 months, it all depends on the individual! Personally I can spend hours just people watching in India and that doesn't cost a thing, walks into the countryside are great, as is bird watching all of which is free, whilst many of India's monuments now have a fee (don't let that put you off go see them) a walk around might find you amidst an old fort or faced by a crumbling Chatri!!

So think long and hard about what I and others say about budget travel and leave yourself an escape stash lest it all gets to much!!

There's a thread on prices in India which might interest you you'll find it here!

Prices!!!!!!!!!

[justmakebelieve]

I'm travelling for 6 months in India, and I'm taking £500 per month - works out at £15/day, approximately 1200rupees, depending on what the exchange rate is up to.

I've planned on this because, though I would like to travel the way Cyberhippie describes, practically, this is my first big trip alone, and first to India which isn't relying on mum paying for 5* hotels! So I don't know whether I'll be able to cope with mega-budget travel. I'd rather take the extra money and possibly come home with it, than not take it and be miserable because I can't afford the things I need to make me comfortable.

Another tip I've used in other countries is to have a weekly budget rather than a daily one. I met some people once who were staying in mega-cheap places through the week, then every sunday they checked into somewhere expensive, and sat by the pool, had a bath, stocked up at the breakfast buffet etc etc. I think if you're travelling on a tight budget its important to allow yourself a little splurge once in a while.

When are you planning on travelling?

[cyberhippie]

I couldn't agree more justmakebelieve!!

One other tip for the budget traveller, the longer you stay somewhere the cheaper it is, if you stay for a week say, you can sometimes do a deal with the hotel, you'll find all the secret local eateries and you won't be using transport. All of these things help you keep your weekly/daily budget on track!!

[bamboozle]

hiya! the advice given is excellent...  
my partner and I can survive pretty great on £50 each a week.  
like justmakebelieve mentioned, at the end of each week we usually have a bit left over which we either save for occassions like a nice hotel room in a strange city (when we first arrive until we suss it out), a better class of train ticket (when its too hot and we have a long journey ahead) or to buy something we like.  we don't go for big dinners or drinks but I will spend money on decent spring water and fresh healthy food and ofcourse good coffee - the little things that make us happy.
its amazing how inexpensive it is to be in India.  you will also get great advice when you meet people travelling. this is how we find out the best and cheapest places to eat or stay & to find out all the great stuff you can see or do for free.  
we always keep a 'stash' too for back up and then there is the 'ol credit card which we only ever use at the end of our journey, but makes us feel safe to know it is there if we ever needed it.  
you could always start with a bigger budget and see how your spending goes... you might find you could lower your spending on certain things leaving you with more money to do other stuff.  you will find out what is important to you to spend on when travelling - everyone is different.
its easy to get carried away spending money when you see so much stuff for so little cost.  I am terrible with rupees in my pocket and can easily spend them without thinking.  I have learned to not be so impulsive and save my precious cash for the end of my time when I can go on a little shopping spree without worrying about over spending my budget.  it doesnt work for everyone but it works for me.  after months of living on a shoe string budget it feels good to go nuts at the end (and it doen't take much cash to go nuts when shopping in India).  

have a safe and happy journey!

[fizziona]

thanks so much guys, thats really useful, I didn't expect replies so quickly
thank youuuuuuu      !!
I'm gunna be flying out to India in september, but will be on a volunteer placement for three months before I go it alone.. hoping to fl to sri lanka at some point which will of course cost a litlle extra, but visas must and all that thanks again
Fizzxx

Edited by fizziona, 20 June 2006 - 01:59 PM.

[cyberhippie]

Hey that's what we're here for, please feel free to ask any other questions you might have!!

[justmakebelieve]

Your plans sound fairly similar to mine - I'm flying out in October, spending two months on a volunteer placement, then travelling for 4 months - hopefully taking in Nepal and Tibet as well.

Have you booked flight yet? If not, you might be interested in Sri Lankan Airlines - I'm currently considering flying with them and taking a two week stop over in Sri Lanka on my way home.

[fizziona]

I've booked my flight with my gap year company and sta travel for cheap student rates   and then I'm gonna do a seperate flight India-sri lanka and back because I want to get visa to stay in India longer.  It's also useful that I know some1 in sri lanka so it should be cheaper

[digital drifter]

Best exchange rates


http://www.nytimes.c.....b101&ei=5087

Quote

For most travelers, the place to start is with an A.T.M. or a bank, where you are most likely to get the best rate.


"We recommend that people use their debit or A.T.M. cards to withdraw money from an A.T.M. as soon as they arrive," said Tom Meyers, editor of www.eurocheapo.com, an Internet guide to inexpensive hotels. "The rates from European banks are almost always lower than going to commercial exchange counters."