Budget Breakdown by Travel Style
Budget Traveler
₹800–1,200/day
Stay
₹300–500 (dorm/budget guesthouse)
Food
₹150–250 (local dhabas)
Transport
₹200–400 (shared cabs)
Activities
₹100–200 (entry fees)
- Stay in shared dorms or budget guesthouses
- Eat at local dhabas and Police Bazar stalls
- Use shared cabs between cities
- Visit free attractions like Ward's Lake gardens
Mid-Range Traveler
₹2,000–3,500/day
Stay
₹800–1,500 (homestay/guesthouse)
Food
₹400–700 (restaurants)
Transport
₹600–1,200 (private taxi)
Activities
₹200–500 (guided tours)
- Wiba Homestay is perfect for this budget
- Eat at Trattoria and Café Shillong
- Book Markos for a full-day taxi tour
- Combine 2–3 attractions per day
Comfort Traveler
₹4,000–7,000/day
Stay
₹2,000–4,000 (hotel/premium homestay)
Food
₹800–1,500 (good restaurants)
Transport
₹1,500–2,500 (private AC taxi)
Activities
₹500–1,000 (private guides)
- Book 2BHK at Wiba Homestay for families
- Private guided tours with Markos
- Combine Shillong + Cherrapunji + Dawki
- Book well in advance for Oct–Nov
Essential Travel Tips
Money & Payments
- Carry cash — many small shops and dhabas don't accept cards
- ATMs are available at Police Bazar and Laitumkhrah
- UPI (PhonePe, GPay) works at most restaurants and shops
- Avoid exchanging money at the airport — rates are poor
SIM Card & Internet
- Airtel and Jio work best in Shillong and Cherrapunji
- BSNL is recommended for remote areas like Dawki and Mawlynnong
- Buy a local SIM at Guwahati airport or Police Bazar
- Internet can be slow in remote areas — download offline maps
Safety & Local Rules
- Shillong is very safe — one of the safest cities in Northeast India
- Respect local customs — Khasi people are matrilineal and very proud of their culture
- Don't litter — Meghalaya takes cleanliness seriously (Mawlynnong is Asia's cleanest village)
- Photography at military checkpoints (Shillong Peak) is prohibited
- Carry your ID — some areas require registration
Getting Around
- Hire a local taxi for the day — much better than Ola/Uber for sightseeing
- Shared cabs run between Shillong, Cherrapunji, and Dawki
- Roads can be narrow and winding — allow extra travel time
- Avoid driving yourself if you're not used to mountain roads
Booking Tips
- Book homestay 2–3 months ahead for Oct–Nov and December
- WhatsApp Markos directly — no booking fees, instant confirmation
- Combine homestay + taxi + tour for the best value
- Avoid booking through OTAs — you'll pay 20–30% more
What to Avoid
- Don't visit in July–August unless you specifically want monsoon experience
- Avoid random taxis from Guwahati airport — they overcharge tourists
- Don't skip Cherrapunji — it's only 55km from Shillong and unmissable
- Don't rely on Google Maps for remote roads — ask locals
Markos Says
"The biggest mistake tourists make is booking everything through OTAs and paying 30% more. Just WhatsApp me. I'll give you a fair price for homestay + taxi + tour combined. I've been doing this for 15 years and my guests always come back. Also — always carry cash. Cherrapunji and Dawki have very few ATMs."