Cost of Food in India

I'll be going to India for two months in September and I won't be spending more that two weeks at a time in one city and depending on where I'm staying I won't be able to cook very often. I realize that the cost of eating in India will vary widely depending on where you go, but if I'm just eating at casual dining places or street stalls is there a way to know if I am being given a fair price for food or if I am being charged extra for being a foreigner?

The only thing I can think of is to ask my hosts for advice once I get there, but any advance advice would be helpful.

You will be risking your health at casual places and with street food, and it will be very cheap, like a dollar a meal. In the better hotel restaurants, your health will be at less risk, and you can expect to pay maybe $4 per meal. Asking the hosts or hotel desks is a great idea.

Fireside_Hindu said:

I'll be going to India for two months in September and I won't be spending more that two weeks at a time in one city and depending on where I'm staying I won't be able to cook very often. I realize that the cost of eating in India will vary widely depending on where you go, but if I'm just eating at casual dining places or street stalls is there a way to know if I am being given a fair price for food or if I am being charged extra for being a foreigner?

The only thing I can think of is to ask my hosts for advice once I get there, but any advance advice would be helpful.

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Having been to India, don't worry about food costs (very cheap) or being ripped off for food. People may try to rip you off in other ways, though. I didn't make it out of the airport without swarms of human pests. What you should be worried about the most is getting sick intestinally from bacteria your system is not accustomed to. Take precautions about what you eat but I have the theory that if you have a sensitivity to certain bacteria, they are ubiquitous in the environment. I don't want to be a downer, but pay all the heed you can to that issue, and cross your fingers. My downer advice might save the day for you.

George-ananda said:

Having been to India, don't worry about food costs (very cheap) or being ripped off for food. People may try to rip you off in other ways, though. I didn't make it out of the airport without swarms of human pests. What you should be worried about the most is getting sick intestinally from bacteria your system is not accustomed to. Take precautions about what you eat but I have the theory that if you have a sensitivity to certain bacteria, they are ubiquitous in the environment. I don't want to be a downer, but pay all the heed you can to that issue, and cross your fingers. My downer advice might save the day for you.

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Further to this, you can go to your doctor and get some fairly powerful emergency meds to take along just in case. Your doctor will know. We always took it, and I used it both times.

Thanks for the warnings =) My doctor prescribed some powerful antbiotics for when I inevitably get sick. I'm thinking I should get more though. I am also bring some water purifying pills, re-hydration salts and good old pepto-bismol to take as a preventative. (There has been come evidence to suggest that taking PB before or after each meal while abroad helps reduce the occurrence and severity of some stomach bugs. I used it this way on my 9 day trip and only felt slightly off on the last day)

Fireside_Hindu said:

Thanks for the warnings =) My doctor prescribed some powerful antbiotics for when I inevitably get sick. I'm thinking I should get more though. I am also bring some water purifying pills, re-hydration salts and good old pepto-bismol to take as a preventative. (There has been come evidence to suggest that taking PB before or after each meal while abroad helps reduce the occurrence and severity of some stomach bugs. I used it this way on my 9 day trip and only felt slightly off on the last day)

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Wow, you know your stuff, I went with nothing but crossed fingers (and ended with crossed legs).

George-ananda said:

Wow, you know your stuff, I went with nothing but crossed fingers (and ended with crossed legs).

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I'm an over planner. I've got a little under two months to go any my bag is sitting half packed already. I have a problem.

Also have lots of people to meet and work to do while I'm there and I don't want to miss interviews because I'm worshiping the porcelain god from both ends. =X

Fireside_Hindu said:

Thanks for the warnings =) My doctor prescribed some powerful antbiotics for when I inevitably get sick. I'm thinking I should get more though. I am also bring some water purifying pills, re-hydration salts and good old pepto-bismol to take as a preventative. (There has been come evidence to suggest that taking PB before or after each meal while abroad helps reduce the occurrence and severity of some stomach bugs. I used it this way on my 9 day trip and only felt slightly off on the last day)

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The hosts can sometimes be the most dangerous places for it. Often its just a lack of understanding about building up resistances to bacteria.. Occasionally its a pride thing where they hate to admit the water might be off. You just have to be persistent, despite their objections. I got ill twice in Mauritius, (not bad considering it was 3 months ... we diligently boiled the water) both times eating at friend's houses. Boss didn't get it though, and it was far less severe than the Indian variety.

Vinayaka said:

The hosts can sometimes be the most dangerous places for it. Often its just a lack of understanding about building up resistances to bacteria.. Occasionally its a pride thing where they hate to admit the water might be off. You just have to be persistent, despite their objections. I got ill twice in Mauritius, (not bad considering it was 3 months ... we diligently boiled the water) both times eating at friend's houses. Boss didn't get it though, and it was far less severe than the Indian variety.

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Good point. I would insist on bottled water, but for cleaning the food and etc., nothing is going to be perfect.

George-ananda said:

Good point. I would insist on bottled water, but for cleaning the food and etc., nothing is going to be perfect.

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One of the reasons a general rule is to never buy cut fruit from the street. Only whole fruits like bananas, citrus, or mango. It's the water on the knives.

Fireside_Hindu said:

I'll be going to India for two months in September and I won't be spending more that two weeks at a time in one city and depending on where I'm staying I won't be able to cook very often. I realize that the cost of eating in India will vary widely depending on where you go, but if I'm just eating at casual dining places or street stalls is there a way to know if I am being given a fair price for food or if I am being charged extra for being a foreigner?

The only thing I can think of is to ask my hosts for advice once I get there, but any advance advice would be helpful.

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hmm....I don't' see how that can happen -- you being charged extra for a meal since even the smaller restaurants/eateries will most likely have their menu displayed somewhere...
if you're going to be charged extra, it could happen when you're taking a taxi(i'm thinking a pre-paid taxi arranged by your hotel would be a better idea) or auto traveling here and there, or it might happen when you're shopping, but not for food -- i don't think...

Fireside_Hindu said:

I'll be going to India for two months in September and I won't be spending more that two weeks at a time in one city and depending on where I'm staying I won't be able to cook very often. I realize that the cost of eating in India will vary widely depending on where you go, but if I'm just eating at casual dining places or street stalls is there a way to know if I am being given a fair price for food or if I am being charged extra for being a foreigner?

The only thing I can think of is to ask my hosts for advice once I get there, but any advance advice would be helpful.

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November/December are two best months for traveling. You may consider these:

1. Use bottled/boiled water always.
2. Go to restaurants/hotels that have fixed menu cards. Tata group have 'Ginger' group of economy hotels that are safest and cleanest at very very reasonable rates. For both food and stay these can be depended upon, wherever possible.
3. If you eat out, go for whole fruit or food that is cooked fresh in front of you. There are enough KFC etc. everywhere.
4. Make use of pre paid taxi. You can use radio taxi or auto, through Meru, Uber, Ola etc., if you are equipped with 3G. We do not yet have 4G.
5. And Google maps .. of course.
...

I carry, Nux Vom 30 for any kind of upset and Aloes 30 for diahorrea. But I think this advice may not be suitable for those who need allopathy.

Best.

There are many ways by which one can fall sick.As you are from a different place you may not have much resistance to disease causing organisms here.

-Always purchase bottled mineral water with proper seal,brands like Kinley,Bisleri etc. will be available in most places.
Never,ever,ever drink any other water,not even a sip.Just politely refuse water offered by others even if you are thirsty.Buy a liter bottle and carry it with you,in your host's home too.Keep a stock of few bottles ready.I don't drink water in my relatives houses,either I carry my own bottle or buy outside.

-Avoid drinking juices in roadside stalls,they'll put ice in it.Heaven knows where this ice is from!If you can drink juices at normal temp. its better to avoid chilled ones.You must tell them beforehand to not add ice,by default ice is an ingredient.
(Many varieties of soft/carbonated/fruit drinks are available..Tropicana,Real,Mazza(tasty mango flavored drink)...Much safer.)

-Eat sweets only from neat looking shops.Easiest way to fall sick is by eating pani puri/gol gappa.Its safe to eat it in 'branded' sweet houses.

-I don't know which places you are visiting.Food is comparatively cheaper in the south.If you eat in moderately priced restaurants it may cost you an avg. 20$ per day i.e. 3 meals.In fancy restaurants one time meal can easily exceed 20$.

-All eateries have menu boards/cards with prices(excluding tax) displayed.Nothing to worry.

Have a safe and happy trip.

Fireside_Hindu said:

Thanks for the warnings =) My doctor prescribed some powerful antbiotics for when I inevitably get sick. I'm thinking I should get more though. I am also bring some water purifying pills, re-hydration salts and good old pepto-bismol to take as a preventative. (There has been come evidence to suggest that taking PB before or after each meal while abroad helps reduce the occurrence and severity of some stomach bugs. I used it this way on my 9 day trip and only felt slightly off on the last day)

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Come on! Needn't worry that much .
Where you will be visiting is india in 2016.

Vanakkam

Been eating pretty much everywhere, from street food stalls to hôtel restaurant.

Only time I got really sick was when I ate pastas at a hôtel restaurant.

But I had the yummiest dhal and goat kabab in little local restaurants on thé streets for a ridiculous price

Just avoid ice creams, and western food !

Otherwise everything is really cheap. Usually when eating outside,, cosy me between 100 and 500 RS/ for street restaurant, and 10 - 50 RS/ for street food stall.

Never been charged more than thé price written on the menu. Only time someone tried to scam me was at a temple, where a guy tried to sell a 200 RS/ coconut to me. ( I was buying them like, 10rs/ at the market) told him in Hindi that I was not a tourist, so hé should not give me the tourist price... It all went well.

Aum Namah Shivaya

As a matter of fact, there is the basic rule acceptable for all tourists visiting somewhere ; go to the restaurants where lots of people are frequenting,locals are not stupid people to offer themselves bad food.

I have another question about my upcoming trip. It's not about food, but I figured it didn't need its own thread.

I know that dressing like the local women is recommended and looked at positively. But I wanted to know if the same was true for wearing a traditional red bindi while in India. I know many, many foreign women wear all kinds of decorative bindis in and outside India but I'm curious if local Indians within India roll their eyes at this, find it weird, or don't care.