Pegpedia data guide
Where alcohol is cheapest in India
Alcohol is a state subject in India. Every state sets its own excise duty, which is why the same bottle — same brand, same 750ml — can carry wildly different price tags depending on which side of a border you buy it.
Built from 14,838 price records across 6 states, sourced from government excise publications and named retailers (see Data Sources). Recomputed on every page load — no hand-written numbers.
₹615 in Karnataka versus ₹6,800 in Maharashtra — a 1005.7% difference, or ₹6,185 on one bottle.
How much does the same bottle vary?
This only compares products we have priced in two or more states — the same bottle against itself. Comparing category averages between states would be misleading, because states where we track more premium bottles would look expensive for reasons that have nothing to do with duty.
| Category | Bottles compared | Typical gap | Widest gap | Usually cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wine | 352 | 20.1% | 376.5% | Karnataka |
| Whiskey | 181 | 32.3% | 391.3% | Delhi |
| Beer | 115 | 38.5% | 220.8% | Delhi |
| Vodka | 97 | 46.7% | 239.6% | Delhi |
| Gin | 78 | 25.3% | 118.2% | Delhi |
| Rum | 63 | 37.4% | 1005.7% | Delhi |
| Tequila | 50 | 30.8% | 883.6% | Karnataka |
| Liqueur | 34 | 38.6% | 272.5% | Delhi |
| Brandy | 19 | 61.9% | 325.8% | Karnataka |
"Typical gap" is the median across compared bottles, so one extreme outlier doesn't distort it.
The widest gaps we've found
Coverage by state
| State | Bottles priced | Average price | Cheapest we found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 11,174 | ₹5,243 | ₹17 · Super Jack Fine Brandy-Extra Smooth-SACHET Sachet |
| Maharashtra | 1,593 | ₹7,619 | ₹90 · Kingfisher Premium Lager Beer (330ml) |
| Delhi | 1,017 | ₹2,392 | ₹50 · Mark V Captain’s Choice Whisky |
| Rajasthan | 346 | ₹1,471 | ₹50 · 100 Strokes Regal Whisky |
| Telangana | 344 | ₹1,471 | ₹50 · 100 Strokes Regal Whisky |
| West Bengal | 315 | ₹7,012 | ₹70 · Kingfisher Premium Lager |
Average price reflects the mix of bottles we track in each state, not the cost of living there — a state where we happen to have more single malts will show a higher average. Use the same-bottle comparisons above for anything meaningful.
Before you plan a trip around this
Carrying alcohol across state lines in India is restricted, and the permitted quantity varies by state — in several, moving even a single sealed bottle across a border without a permit is an offence. Maharashtra additionally requires a permit to purchase or consume alcohol at all under the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949. Prices here are indicative MRPs for comparison and research, not an invitation to move stock. Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, Nagaland and Lakshadweep prohibit alcohol outright.