Cost of living in India

Summary of cost of living in India

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: ₨142,263
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: ₨62,779
  • India is the cheapest country in Asia (10 out of 10)
  • India is the cheapest country in the World (66 out of 66)
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Food
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district ₨417
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) ₨340
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast ₨168
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk ₨60
12 eggs, large ₨87
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes ₨47
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese ₨243
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples ₨182
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes ₨32
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket ₨155
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality ₨905
2 liters of coca-cola ₨88
Bread for 2 people for 1 day ₨39
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area ₨46,457
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area ₨26,696
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat ₨4,673
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area ₨26,601
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area ₨14,895
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio ₨4,065
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) ₨595
40” flat screen tv ₨29,913
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) ₨10,503
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) ₨455
Hourly rate for cleaning help ₨647
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) ₨2,412
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) ₨2,912
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) ₨4,109
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes ₨2,950
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new ₨1,910,150
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas ₨102
Monthly ticket public transport ₨1,062
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) ₨140
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) ₨241
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) ₨953
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) ₨386
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) ₨200
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) ₨294
4 rolls of toilet paper ₨155
Tube of toothpaste ₨86
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city ₨275
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub ₨1,451
2 tickets to the movies ₨688
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) ₨1,587
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert ₨2,125
1 cocktail drink in downtown club ₨625
Cappuccino in expat area of the city ₨191
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) ₨188
Ipad wi-fi 128gb ₨47,373
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) ₨1.67
1 month of gym membership in business district ₨1,611
1 package of marlboro cigarettes ₨289

Map of Cost of Living in India

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This map shows only the top cities in India. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan

The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.

What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.

Cost of Living Ranking in India

(top cities by data quality)

Ranking City Price Index *
1st Latur 61
2nd Mumbai 59
3rd Jammu 53
4th Delhi 48
5th Pune 47
6th Kolkata 45
7th Nagpur 43
8th Srinagar 36

Price Index:

To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.

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Prices recently added

  • 1 month of gym membership in business district in Bangalore costs ₨2,000 (about 14 hours ago)
  • Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Bangalore costs ₨3,000 (about 14 hours ago)
  • 2 tickets to the movies in Bangalore costs ₨1,000 (about 14 hours ago)
  • Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Bangalore costs ₨2,000 (about 14 hours ago)
  • Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city in Bangalore costs ₨300 (about 14 hours ago)
  • 75 ml tube of toothpaste in Bangalore costs ₨120 (about 14 hours ago)
  • 400 ml hair shampoo 2-in-1 in Bangalore costs ₨125 (about 14 hours ago)
  • 1 box of 16 of tampons (tampax, ob, ...) in Bangalore costs ₨500 (about 14 hours ago)
  • 12 doses box of antibiotics in Bangalore costs ₨250 (about 14 hours ago)
  • 12 tablets box of cold medicine (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) in Bangalore costs ₨60 (about 14 hours ago)

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