Kochi was a completely different experience from Delhi — in all the best ways. Several people recommended we add it to our itinerary before coming to India, and we’re so glad we listened.

This part of the country gave us a more relaxed pace, plenty of cultural experiences, and a glimpse of different religions living side by side in peace. One of the highlights was our peaceful and scenic houseboat stay, something we’ll always remember.

In total, our cost to visit Kochi was $1,912.99 for three weeks, which comes out to $91.09 per day for our family of four.

Here’s how the cost of visiting Kochi broke down. All amounts are listed in US dollars.

Accommodation—$827.89 or $39.42 per night.

We stayed in a vacation rental just a short walk from the JLN Stadium Metro line, which made it easy to get around Kochi without needing a car. The home was tucked into a quieter residential area, away from the noise of the main road, which was a nice change of pace.

It had everything we needed — three bedrooms, a play area for the kids, a kitchen for cooking meals, and a washer for keeping up with laundry. Plus, there were plenty of restaurants nearby when we didn’t feel like cooking.

Eating Out – $169.45 or $3.13 per meal

Food in Kerala was absolutely delicious for us adults — the South Indian flavors were rich, spicy, and full of depth. But for the kids, it was a different story. The spices and flavor profiles just didn’t work for them, so we ended up ordering more Western-style meals, which were noticeably more expensive than local dishes.

We used the Swiggy app for most of our meals. It works like Uber Eats or DoorDash back in the US, but it’s faster, cheaper, and super easy to use. Bonus — we used our favorite credit card and earned 3x points on dining.

Here’s what we spent eating out in Kochi:

Pizza Hut — $15.37
A go-to comfort meal for the kids. We ate here twice while visiting Lulu Mall.
Local biryani — $4.79
Of course we had to try real Kerala-style biryani. Packed with flavor and super affordable.
Brindhavan Restaurant — $20.57
One of the top-rated places for South Indian food in the area. We ordered from here twice and it didn’t disappoint.
Al Taza — $36.11
We found this spot early and kept going back. Their chicken shawarma wraps were a hit with the kids and the adults. We ate here three times.
Grillax — $15.21
Located inside the mall, this place had chicken wraps and burgers that were mild enough for the kids and easy for a quick bite.
Kashi Art Café — $8.82
A beautiful, artsy restaurant in Fort Kochi. Great vibes and a nice break from the usual scene.
Lila Curations — $13.34
We had lunch inside a museum, which kept the kids entertained while we waited for food. Definitely a fun combo of culture and a meal.
Alleppey houseboat day — $17.24
We bought fresh tiger prawns and a beer during our houseboat trip. Totally worth the little splurge.
Ginger House Restaurant — $15.85
This place came highly recommended for its stunning artwork and location in Mattancherry. The setting was beautiful, but the food didn’t quite live up to the hype.
Burgers — $22.15
Sometimes we just had to go with what worked. These burgers were tasty and kid-approved, but like most Western food in India, they came at a premium.

Groceries – $297.51

Since we stayed in Kochi for three weeks, we needed all the basics to settle in comfortably. We cooked most of our meals at home and always had snacks on hand for the kids.

On average, we spent about $1.20 per meal for our family of four, which covered groceries and snacks throughout the day.

Here’s how it broke down:

Instamart via Swiggy — $43.75
Quick and convenient. We used Swiggy for last-minute grocery needs, and everything was delivered to our door within 20 minutes.
Lulu Hypermarket — $201.96
This international grocery store became our go-to. It had everything we needed in bulk and felt like the Indian version of a large US grocery store.
Kalyan Hypermarket — $30.18
We were nearby and decided to stock up while in the area. Good selection and easy to navigate.
Local market around the corner — $21.62
Our neighborhood shop covered everyday basics and quick grabs without needing to go far.

Transportation – $173.81

We’ve left out the cost of our flights since everyone will be coming to Kochi from different parts of the world. That said, we did use Daily Drop Pro to help us find flight redemptions using points from our favorite travel credit card — a huge help for keeping costs down.

Here’s what we spent on local transportation during our three weeks in Kochi:

Private transfer from Munnar — $57.77
We were staying on a tea plantation in Munnar, about three hours away. A private transfer was the most practical and comfortable way to get back to Kochi with kids and luggage.
Uber rides — $45.86
Uber was our main way of getting around areas not covered by the metro. Reliable, easy to use, and affordable.
Kochi Metro tickets — $10.28
Kochi’s metro is clean and efficient. Tickets are based on height, not age, so we paid for three people each time. It was a great way to reach a lot of the city’s highlights.
Private transfer to Alleppey and back — $48.60
For our houseboat adventure in Alleppey, we booked private transport round trip. It was about a two-hour drive each way and gave us peace of mind knowing we had a safe, direct route.
Uber to Cochin International Airport — $11.30
Our final ride was a smooth and easy Uber trip from our accommodation to the airport.

Tourist Attractions – $271.94

We did a lot during our three weeks in Kochi, and most experiences were either very low cost or completely free. That made it easy to explore without worrying about blowing the budget. Our biggest splurge was the Alleppey houseboat experience — and it was worth every penny.

Here’s what we spent on activities:

Alleppey houseboat day trip — $189.59
This was hands down one of the highlights of our time in Kerala. We booked a private houseboat with air conditioning for a six-hour journey through the backwaters. Peaceful, beautiful, and something we’ll never forget.
Hill Palace — $11.61
A huge palace complex once home to the Cochin royal family. Lots of space to roam and learn some history along the way.
Bird Sanctuary — $0.48
A quiet, inexpensive nature outing. Perfect for a slower morning.
Lulu Mall Amusement Park — $21.86
On hot days, we headed to the Lulu Mall so the kids could play in the amusement area. We went twice and it was a hit both times.
Chinese fishing nets tip — $2.31
We gave a small tip to the fishermen after watching them operate the traditional Chinese fishing nets — a fun cultural experience.
Children’s Science Park — $0.69
A small park with science-themed activities for kids. Super budget friendly and something different.
Kathakali show — $21.96
Another highlight of our time in Kochi. We watched a live Kathakali performance, which was both artistic and culturally rich. Click here to read more.
Massage for Anna — $22.98
Yes, I got a massage. And yes, I absolutely deserved it.
Mattancherry Palace — $0.23
A short and sweet cultural stop, packed with history.
Paradesi Synagogue — $0.23
One of the oldest synagogues in the Commonwealth. A meaningful and peaceful visit in the heart of Jew Town.

Miscellaneous – $59.83

These are the little things that came up along the way — practical, personal, and sometimes just to keep the kids entertained between travel days.

Electric razor — $11.67
My razor stopped working, so I had to pick up a replacement.
Airalo eSIM — $15.00
Used this again to stay connected throughout our time in Kochi. Quick setup and super reliable.
Facial oil — $13.78
Picked up a beautiful handmade oil from a 100% women-owned shop in Mattancherry. It felt good to support a local business.
Hamleys — $19.38
We grabbed a couple of books and watercolor pads for the girls ahead of our next travel day. Always worth it to have quiet activities on hand.

Healthcare– $112.56

Our monthly renewal of our nomad travel health insurance for our family from SafetyWing got billed

Total: $1,912.99

What we learned:

Transportation
Getting around Kochi was easy and stress-free. We mostly used the metro, which got us to nearly everywhere we wanted to go. When we needed a ride beyond the metro line, we used Uber — no need to haggle or guess prices, which made getting around with kids that much easier.

Food
Kerala’s South Indian food was flavorful and really affordable. We spent about $1.20 per meal when cooking at home, which was a big win for our budget. That said, the kids had a tough time with the strong flavors and spices, so we had to mix in more familiar, Western-style meals — and those added up, averaging around $3.13 per meal per person.

Accommodations
Before booking, we reached out to our host to ask if they’d consider lowering the price for our stay — and they said yes, which helped us stick to our budget. The place had everything we needed as a family: space for the kids to play, a kitchen, a washer, and a great location near the metro.

Kochi ended up being a wonderful slow travel stop for our family. We were able to explore the city at our own pace, without stress, and with plenty of transportation options that made life easier. The food was delicious for us adults, and the Alleppey houseboat ride and Kathakali performance were experiences we’ll always remember.

If you’re planning a trip to India with kids, Kochi is definitely worth putting on your list.