India · Asia
Surat, India: cost, safety and best time to visit (2026)
Population: 4.6MCurrency: INRTime zone: Asia/Kolkata
US travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Best months to visit
Jan, Feb, Mar and Dec
highest visit score, Open-Meteo climate record
About Surat
Surat is a large city in the Indian state of Gujarat with a population of about 4.6 million people. It is not the country's capital, and most visitors combine it with other stops in Gujarat rather than treating it as a stand-alone destination. Prices here are generally affordable by international standards, with a full day of travel costing around $25 on a budget itinerary, $55 for a mid-range trip, or $115 for a more comfortable, higher-spending visit. Over a full week those figures work out to $175, $385, and $805 for the three tiers. The climate is dry and sunny for much of the year, with a clear monsoon period bringing heavy rain in the middle months. Travelers researching Surat should also be aware of both country-level US and UK government travel guidance, which covers general safety topics such as crime, scams, and demonstrations rather than issues specific to this city. The sections below break down costs, timing, and safety information in more detail.
Weather through the year
Average high in °C and monthly rainfall in mm, from the Open-Meteo archive.
Jan
30°
0mm
Feb
34°
0mm
Mar
36°
9mm
Apr
38°
2mm
May
37°
16mm
Jun
33°
272mm
Jul
30°
491mm
Aug
30°
348mm
Sep
30°
247mm
Oct
33°
105mm
Nov
33°
34mm
Dec
31°
1mm
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a week in Surat cost?
A one-week trip runs about $175 on a budget itinerary, $385 for a mid-range trip, and $805 for a luxury one. These totals scale directly from the daily estimates of $25, $55, and $115 per person.
When is the best time to visit Surat?
The best-rated months are January, February, March, and December, when daytime highs stay in a comfortable range and rainfall is minimal or absent. Sunshine hours are also among the highest of the year in these months.
Is Surat safe to visit?
The US State Department rates India as Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and this advisory applies at the country level rather than specifically to Surat. UK government guidance covers similar country-wide topics such as crime, scams, and demonstrations, so travelers should apply general safety precautions rather than assuming city-specific risk.
Can I visit Surat on a tight budget?
Yes, the budget estimate of $25 per day is built for cost-conscious travel covering basic lodging, meals, and local transport. Staying in the off-season months can help stretch a limited budget further since prices and demand both drop.
What is the cheapest time of year to visit?
June, July, and August are listed as the off-season, coinciding with the heaviest rainfall of the year, including 491mm in July and 348mm in August. This is typically when accommodation and services are least in demand.
What about food and getting around the city?
Local transport and everyday meals are inexpensive relative to many international destinations, which is part of why the budget daily estimate stays as low as $25. Costs rise with restaurant choice and private transport, which push spending toward the mid-range or luxury daily figures of $55 and $115.
Keep reading
Where it ranks
Country
Sources
- GeoNames city database — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 14, 2026
- Open-Meteo climate archive — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 21, 2026
- World Bank price level and exchange rate — CC BY 4.0, data year 2025
- US State Department travel advisories — public domain, fetched September 21, 2026
- UK FCDO foreign travel advice — Open Government Licence v3, fetched September 21, 2026
AI-written interpretation reviewed against the data above — claude-sonnet-5, generated September 21, 2026. Every number on this page comes from a dataset named here; the formulas are public.