India searches for "rent a friend" more than almost any country. Some of those searches are visitors who want someone local to show them Mumbai or Delhi, eat with them, or help with the language. Many are Indians asking how to get paid for exactly that. This page answers both.
What "rent a friend" means#
Paying a local for a few hours of their time: a walk through a neighbourhood, a meal, a market, a cricket match, a conversation in English or Hindi. It's company, not dating, and Roavi bans anything else. Think of it as hiring a friend who knows the city instead of a guide with a script.
How it works on Roavi#
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Browse Local Friends in a city, with real photos, a bio and reviews |
| 2 | Message them in the app and agree a plan and a time |
| 3 | Meet in a public place; the Local Friend's hourly rate covers their time |
| 4 | Meals, tickets and transport are agreed before you meet |
Each Local Friend sets their own rate. Worldwide, most are between $15 and $50 an hour; in India many set lower rates in rupees. How much does it cost to rent a friend? explains what moves the price.
Cities#
- Rent a friend in Mumbai: the city with the most visitors and the most Local Friend searches.
- Rent a friend in Delhi: the capital, Old Delhi and the business districts.
- Rent a friend in Bangalore: the tech city, with a big crowd of newcomers and business travellers.
Getting paid as a Local Friend in India#
If you live in a city that gets visitors, you can be the friend people are searching for:
- Sign up free on Roavi as a Local Friend.
- Add real photos and a short bio: who you are, what you'd show someone, what you're great for.
- Set your hourly rate and when you're free.
- Reply fast when a traveller messages. Travellers choose the first local who answers.
Roavi takes no commission: what you agree with the traveller is yours. You don't sell tours or drive anyone, so you don't need a guide licence. Paid friend jobs explained covers what the work is really like.
Safety, both ways#
Meet in public, keep the conversation in the app until you've met, tell someone your plan, and never pay or accept money in advance outside the platform. Is renting a friend weird? answers the question most people are too polite to ask.
Live in India? Get paid to show visitors your city.
Become a Local FriendNearby: rent a friend in Pakistan and in Nepal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rent a friend legal in India?
Yes. Paying someone for their time and company, to show you around or eat with you, is like hiring a guide or a tutor. It is not dating or anything intimate; a serious platform states that clearly and bans it.How much does it cost to rent a friend in India?
Each person sets their own rate. On Roavi, Local Friends worldwide mostly charge $15 to $50 an hour; many Indian Local Friends set lower rates in rupees. Meals, tickets and transport during the meetup are agreed before you meet.How do I get paid as a rent-a-friend in India?
Sign up on Roavi as a Local Friend, add real photos and a short bio, set your hourly rate and your free times. Travellers message you in the app; you meet in person in your city. Roavi takes no commission.Which Indian cities have the most demand?
Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Jaipur and Goa get the most international and domestic visitors looking for a local friend. Demand follows tourism and business travel.Is it safe to rent a friend in India?
Meet in public places, talk in the app first, tell someone where you are, and never pay anything outside the platform in advance. Local Friends can verify their identity, and profiles show real photos and reviews.