Money in India: currency, ATMs, cards and tipping

Use this to decide what to carry before you land. Amounts are 2026 estimates and vary by city and season.

Before you fly: tell your bank you are travelling, ask about foreign transaction and ATM fees, and take two cards from different networks. Land with a small float of rupees if you can, or withdraw at an airport machine inside the terminal rather than at a street kiosk.

On arrival: withdraw a larger amount once (often capped at ₹10,000 per transaction) instead of several small ones, and break the notes at a hotel, mall or chain shop. Keep ₹500–1,000 in coins and small notes for tips and temple shoe minders.

Day to day: pay cash for autos, street food, chai, tickets and small shops; use a card in hotels, malls and larger restaurants. If a machine refuses your card, try another bank — foreign-card acceptance varies.

If a card is lost or skimmed: block it with your bank first, then file a police report if your insurer asks for one. Keep card photos and the bank's block-card number offline.

Two money rules cover most of India. First, keep small notes: a ₹500 note is hard to break at a chai stall, and drivers rarely have change early in the morning. Second, treat your phone as a backup, not a wallet. UPI is how India pays, but it generally needs an Indian bank account or mobile number, so a visitor cannot simply download the app and go. A prepaid tourist wallet (UPI One World) is sold at some airports — check availability before you count on it.

Cards work in hotels, malls and larger restaurants, and some rail and ride-hailing apps take cards or wallets. Cash is the fallback everywhere else. ATMs limit each withdrawal, often to ₹10,000, and add a fee per transaction, so take larger amounts less often rather than many small ones. Use machines inside bank branches, malls or airports, where they are less likely to be tampered with or empty.

Tipping is not obligatory in the way it is in the US, but it is expected in tourist-facing services. In restaurants, about 10% is the usual figure if a service charge is not already printed on the bill — check, because some places add it. Hotel porters and housekeeping get ₹50–100 (check). Drivers for a full day, guides and spa staff expect more — check current practice. Taxi and auto drivers generally expect the fare rounded up, not a percentage.

Carry a mix: some ₹100 and ₹200 notes for everyday purchases, and a few larger notes for hotels. Keep a small reserve separate from your main wallet, and photograph your card numbers and bank phone numbers so you can block them quickly if a card is skimmed.