Rs 54 for metro, Rs 10 for auto: Visa expert’s Delhi visit challenges ‘India is expensive’ claim

Travellers and urban residents carry the notion that India is slowly becoming increasingly expensive. The thought has become a recurring discussion given the rising rent rates in major cities, expensive restaurant bills, premium cafes, and soaring flight fares. Especially in metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Bangalore, everything from coffee to app-based taxi rides can feel as pricey when compared to global cities. In fact, social media is also filled with debates regarding the steady surge in the cost of living. But sometimes, all it takes is a simple real-life experience reminding people that this narrative can be wrong.

Delhi commute challenges ‘expensive India’ claim

A visa expert from India recently painted India in a different light in his latest X-post after he landed in New Delhi, highlighting how misleading the “India is expensive” concept can be. The professional, Priyesh Sharma, decided to use the National Capital’s metro network rather than booking a cab. The journey cost just Rs 54, which he admitted to be remarkably affordable for an airport transfer in any major global city, thanks to Delhi’s well-connected metro routes.

After making a quick pitstop in central Delhi, Priyesh Sharma undertook the journey to Gurugram. To evade heavy traffic on the Delhi–Gurugram route, he opted for the metro again through the app, costing Rs 75, while the trip to HUDA City Centre took only an hour and ten minutes. In his final stretch of the commute, the traveller hopped into a shared auto-rickshaw instead of booking an app-based bike or auto ride. The 5-minute ride home cost him Rs 10. Payment was made instantly through a QR scan using a debit card.

Cheap transport, costly luxury: India’s paradox

According to Priyesh Sharma, the entire door-to-door journey of approximately 34 kilometres cost him just Rs 85. For many people, the number can come as a shock, especially when covering a distance from an airport. However, the visa specialist pointed out that such experiences capture the economic reality in India, which presents two extremes. Luxury hotels, opulent restaurants and premium services can rival prices in the world’s richest cities. But everyday essentials like public transport, street food, and local services remain incredibly affordable.

This contrast highlighted the complexity and potential of the country, which continues to build modern infrastructure, expanding metro networks and still offering low-cost alternatives, making daily life accessible to millions. According to Priyesh Sharma, the same country producing global CEOs, engineers, and entrepreneurs still holds enormous untapped potential at home. And perhaps these features make India such an unpredictable yet fascinating place, capable of surprising people, unexpectedly.