Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangalore and Medina

For one person, living is cheaper in Bangalore: $535 a month against $1,364 in Medina, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bangalore
🇮🇳 India
$535
/mo nomad
Medina
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,364
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bangalore and in Medina

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bangalore and in Medina actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $535 in Bangalore versus $1,364 in Medina.

  • Bangalore $535
  • Medina $1,364

Estimated couple costs with rent: $927 in Bangalore versus $1,816 in Medina.

  • Bangalore $927
  • Medina $1,816

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,318 in Bangalore versus $2,268 in Medina.

  • Bangalore $1,318
  • Medina $2,268

Living in Bangalore costs roughly 61% less than in Medina, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bangalore is 60% below, Medina is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bangalore
Medina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 ₹294
$5.53 SAR 20.75
-45.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.83 ₹1,725
$32.09 SAR 120
-44.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 ₹463
$8.20 SAR 30.78
-41.71%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.58 SAR 5.93
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.76 SAR 6.62
-
Cappuccino
$2.24 ₹217
$2.70 SAR 10.15
-17.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₹37.49
$0.76 SAR 2.84
-48.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 ₹13.64
$0.25 SAR 0.95
-44.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ₹226
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 ₹379
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bangalore
Medina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.61 ₹58.6
$1.49 SAR 5.61
-59.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 ₹55.2
$0.92 SAR 3.44
-38.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 ₹77.9
$2.32 SAR 8.70
-65.09%
Eggs
$1.12 ₹109
$2.09 SAR 7.84
-46.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.93 ₹574
$5.44 SAR 20.44
9.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 ₹373
$7.03 SAR 26.39
-45.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.49 SAR 46.90
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 ₹269
$2.42 SAR 9.10
14.88%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 ₹72.2
$1.98 SAR 7.42
-62.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 ₹118
$2.29 SAR 8.60
-46.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.40 ₹39.19
$1.55 SAR 5.83
-74.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 ₹36.40
$1.36 SAR 5.12
-72.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₹34.72
$1.37 SAR 5.14
-73.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 ₹40.31
$0.93 SAR 3.49
-54.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₹31.21
$0.71 SAR 2.68
-54.93%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.29 SAR 4.85
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.48 SAR 5.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.55 SAR 5.83
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61 ₹446
$7.54 SAR 28.32
-38.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.01 ₹872
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₹180
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₹283
-
-
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.35 ₹614
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bangalore
Medina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 ₹48.89
$1.05 SAR 3.94
-51.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.71 ₹1,520
$36.80 SAR 138
-57.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.01 ₹97.8
$1.36 SAR 5.12
-25.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹29.43
$1.68 SAR 6.32
-82.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 ₹203
$5.71 SAR 21.44
-63.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 ₹104
$0.64 SAR 2.41
68.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.6K ₹1.2M
$41.8K SAR 157.0K
-69.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₹1.8M
$20.7K SAR 77.5K
-7.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangalore
Medina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$30.32 ₹2,934
$149 SAR 558
-79.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.11 ₹398
$27.41 SAR 103
-85.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.23 ₹990
$90.7 SAR 341
-88.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bangalore
Medina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.61 ₹1,801
$78.9 SAR 296
-76.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95 ₹576
$9.01 SAR 33.83
-33.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 ₹446
$13.51 SAR 50.7
-65.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bangalore
Medina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 ₹10.1K
$294 SAR 1,103
-64.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,176 ₹307.3K
$5,483 SAR 20.6K
-42.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bangalore
Medina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.29 ₹3,125
$36.85 SAR 138
-12.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.85 ₹2,889
$54.4 SAR 204
-45.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.3 ₹5,160
$67.0 SAR 252
-20.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.66 ₹3,838
$70.0 SAR 263
-43.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bangalore
Medina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₹29.9K
$570 SAR 2,139
-45.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 ₹16.9K
$529 SAR 1,988
-66.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₹76.3K
$779 SAR 2,926
1.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 ₹46.6K
$573 SAR 2,151
-15.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,889 ₹182.8K
$2,309 SAR 8,670
-18.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,067 ₹103.3K
$1,356 SAR 5,091
-21.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bangalore
Medina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$919 ₹89.0K
$1,244 SAR 4,671
-26.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.5
4.17
103.84%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bangalore: October 4, 2026

Last update for Medina: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bangalore
$175
Medina
$529 203% $354
Groceries & Markets
Bangalore
$122
Medina
$191 55.8% $68
Eating Out
Bangalore
$87
Medina
$105 20.8% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Bangalore
$70
Medina
$103 47.2% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangalore
$45
Medina
$267 497% $222
Sport & Entertainment
Bangalore
$28
Medina
$106 281% $78
Getting Around
Bangalore
$20
Medina
$51 151% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $309 in Bangalore and $570 in Medina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medina pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bangalore vs $32.00 in Medina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $122 vs $191 per month, with Bangalore cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Bangalore
🇸🇦 Medina
🕒 Local time
14:11 2:11 PM
11:41 11:41 AM
2 h 30 min behind Bangalore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,495,492
1,100,093
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 96.78 INR (100 INR = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 109 INR (1,000 INR = 9.21 EUR).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.21 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bangalore Medina 4,190 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bangalore
  • Medina

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bangalore vs Medina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bangalore or Medina?
Bangalore wins on cost – living expenses run 155% lower than in Medina. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bangalore the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bangalore or in Medina?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Medina. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bangalore compared to Medina?
Rent for a central apartment: $309 in Bangalore versus $570 in Medina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Bangalore compared to Medina?
A monthly transit pass in Bangalore runs roughly 134% less than in Medina. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Bangalore and in Medina?
Childcare runs $104 in Bangalore versus $294 in Medina. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bangalore or in Medina?
At $535 in Bangalore versus $1,364 in Medina, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bangalore but tight or insufficient in Medina. The gap between the two cities makes Bangalore the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bangalore or Medina?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bangalore delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $535 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bangalore hard to pass up.
How safe is Bangalore compared to Medina?
Safety-wise, Bangalore and Medina are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bangalore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 155% less than in Medina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bangalore vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?