Rs 5,000 ka dosa, Rs 6,000 ki taxi: Indian traveller says it's not worth travelling abroad if you are earning in rupees

Travelling abroad is almost in every middle-class dream bucket list, but that is increasingly becoming expensive for many Indians earning in rupees, according to a viral Instagram video by a content creator. In the clip, Aakriti Pandey spoke about the high cost of transport, food and coffee in the US, saying the experience made her “questioning her life” as she kept converting dollar expenses into Indian rupees (INR). The woman, visibly exhausted after her journey, detailed how a simple airport transfer turned into a financial shock.

Uber ride and breakfast costs surprise traveller

Pandey said the expenses started soon after landing in the US. She pointed out that public transport options were limited, especially late at night, forcing her to depend on ride-hailing services.

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A post shared by Aakriti Pandey (@byaakriti)

“The world has become an expensive place for us Indians. This is the video that I recently made comparing Malaysian Ringgit and Thai Baht to INR, and now I have landed in the US and I find it funny. One dollar is Rs 93 to Rs 95 as of today, and this trip is making me question my life," said Pandey.


“Firstly, public transport, it's non-existent. If you land at midnight, your Uber will cost you almost close to your one-night stay. Like, I paid $67 (Rs 6,325) yesterday night just to reach my hotel, or motel I would like to call it,” she added.

What followed was even more surprising: a craving for familiar Indian comfort food led to three dosas in the Bay Area setting her back $57, translating to roughly Rs 5,300.

“Yesterday we felt like eating dosas for breakfast, and three dosas in the Bay Area today cost you $57, 5,300 rupees for three dosas! People tell me all the time to stop converting to INR, forget about it. But excuse me? How can you, if you earn in INR and spend in dollars?"

Coffee prices also become talking point

Pandey said even coffee prices in the US felt expensive when compared with India.

“Coffee, I think it's the best time to take a caffeine break for me, or maybe a three-to-four-dollar coffee at 7-Eleven, which is yuck. In India, you get fancy coffee beans with almond milk in this amount,” she said.

She added that travelling to countries like the US becomes easier when expenses are covered by employers or sponsors.

“It's just so much better to visit here in company expense or sponsorship, otherwise, it is going to give you too much anxiety, dude,” she said.

Her story isn't isolated. Many Indians who have chased the global dream echo similar sentiments. While India's booming economy and rising middle class have made passports busier than ever, the currency gap remains a stubborn reality. What feels like a reasonable outing in Mumbai or Bengaluru can burn through months of savings abroad.

Social media users share similar experiences

The viral video drew hundreds of comments from users who said they had similar experiences while travelling abroad.

"100 per cent. Every single time I paid online, a calculator started working in my head," said one user.

Another user wrote: "That's the sad reality of the rupee at the moment. Thanks for highlighting it. Indians who dream of travelling the world should know that travelling abroad can seriously burn a hole in your pocket."

A third user commented: "As a person who travelled only 2 countries and planning a third one I can totally relate. Even if someone is travelling for the first time they will start understanding this feeling as soon as they land in another country."

A fourth added: "I agree - also the food and coffee is so bad, it's like spending to just survive! I feel the US is overrated, and the American dream sold to us is a scam."

"US is costly even for Americans," one commenter noted.