City in Uttar Pradesh, India
Cost of living in Varanasi
How much a month costs in Varanasi
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $394–674 (₹38,000–65,000).
Prices in Varanasi
Typical 2026 ranges in INR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | INR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | ₹8,000–20,000 | $83–208 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | ₹5,000–12,000 | $52–125 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ₹300–800 | $3.1–8.3 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ₹1,500–4,000 | $16–42 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ₹60–150 | $0.6–1.6 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ₹300–800 | $3.1–8.3 |
| Cappuccino | ₹80–200 | $0.8–2.1 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ₹10–30 | $0.10–0.31 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ₹60–150 | $0.6–1.6 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | ₹800–2,500 | $8–26 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ₹300–500 | $3.1–5.2 |
Value for money: 92/100
A value score of 92/100 means Varanasi gives more quality of life per dollar than 91% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 37/100. It's the 19th most affordable of 47 places we cover in India.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across India
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | $291–467 | 100/100 |
| Pushkar | $311–498 | 99/100 |
| Jaisalmer | $311–519 | 99/100 |
| Darjeeling | $332–519 | 100/100 |
| Munnar | $332–519 | 99/100 |
| Alleppey | $342–540 | 98/100 |
| Amritsar | $363–571 | 98/100 |
| Jodhpur | $363–571 | 97/100 |
| Varkala | $394–623 | 96/100 |
| Varanasi | $394–674 | 92/100 |
| Dharamshala | $394–674 | 99/100 |
| Leh | $415–674 | 96/100 |
| Pondicherry | $415–674 | 99/100 |
| Rishikesh | $415–726 | 95/100 |
| Manali | $415–726 | 96/100 |
| Shimla | $467–726 | 97/100 |
| Agra | $467–830 | 79/100 |
| Palolem | $519–830 | 92/100 |
| Udaipur | $498–882 | 84/100 |
| Kolkata | $519–934 | 91/100 |
| Chennai | $571–934 | 91/100 |
| Anjuna | $571–934 | 81/100 |
| Jaipur | $571–986 | 74/100 |
| Kochi | $571–986 | 90/100 |
| Andaman Islands | $623–1,040 | 80/100 |
| Hyderabad | $674–1,140 | 82/100 |
| Goa | $726–1,250 | 76/100 |
| Delhi | $778–1,350 | 52/100 |
| Bangalore | $778–1,350 | 71/100 |
| Mumbai | $934–1,660 | 35/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Varanasi
Similar safety, lower cost, in South Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | India | $291–467 |
| Darjeeling | India | $332–519 |
| Jaisalmer | India | $311–519 |
| Pushkar | India | $311–498 |
| Munnar | India | $332–519 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Varanasi?
About $187–291 on a lean budget, $394–674 for a comfortable month and $934–1,870 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Varanasi?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ₹8,000–20,000 ($83–208) a month in the center and ₹5,000–12,000 ($52–125) outside it.
How much does food cost in Varanasi?
A local meal is ₹60–150 ($0.6–1.6); a mid-range restaurant is ₹300–800 ($3.1–8.3) per person.
Is India expensive?
Prices in India are about 23% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Varanasi
Going to Varanasi solo?
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism
- Indian Railways (IRCTC)
- Varanasi Airport (Airports Authority of India)
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.