It depends on the type of hostel which you are willing to stay in generally hostels of many types like to consider the college hostels which are run by the college management they ask you to pay the entire fees at a time or in three sets where as there are other types of hostels like daily paid hostels and monthly paid hostels which are generally available outside the college that is there are private hostels you can pay your hostel fee monthly or on daily basis and there are still some other types of hostels which offer you only for staying purpose that is you can have your breakfast lunch and dinner outside and you can just stay in the hostel