๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $576 in Bangalore versus $371 in Shivamogga.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $947 in Bangalore versus $606 in Shivamogga.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,318 in Bangalore versus $841 in Shivamogga.
๐Living in Bangalore is roughly 55% more expensive than Shivamogga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Bangalore57% lower, Shivamogga72% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Bangalore
Shivamogga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.46โน328
$3.29โน311
5.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.42โน1,648
$15.24โน1,442
14.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.00โน379
$5.18โน490
-22.78%
Cappuccino
$2.32โน220
$1.33โน126
74.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43โน40.36
$0.35โน33.56
22.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16โน15.31
$0.23โน21.79
-30.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29โน217
$1.26โน119
81.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14โน392
$2.99โน283
38.46%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Bangalore
Shivamogga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.61โน57.8
$0.54โน50.7
12.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57โน54.1
$0.47โน44.39
21.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82โน77.6
$0.74โน70.5
10.81%
Eggs
$1.00โน94.5
$0.84โน79.8
19.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.44โน704
$4.40โน417
69.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.91โน370
$3.18โน301
22.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61โน247
$2.12โน200
23.11%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76โน72.1
$0.69โน64.9
10.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.10โน104
$0.54โน51.5
103.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.41โน38.68
$0.42โน40.10
-2.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48โน45.02
$0.42โน39.56
14.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50โน47.65
$0.47โน44.07
6.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48โน45.36
$0.24โน22.85
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35โน33.22
$0.42โน39.75
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13โน391
$3.59โน339
15.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46โน989
$6.74โน638
55.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07โน196
$0.98โน92.9
111.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30โน312
$1.77โน167
86.44%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.54โน714
$4.56โน432
65.35%
๐ Getting Around
Bangalore
Shivamogga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61โน57.3
$0.28โน26.26
117.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.28โน1,351
$8.61โน814
65.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14โน108
$1.18โน111
-3.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36โน33.77
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.28โน216
$2.38โน225
-4.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22โน116
$1.15โน109
6.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.1Kโน1.3M
$11.4Kโน1.1M
23.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3Kโน2.3M
$32.8Kโน3.1M
-25.88%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangalore
Shivamogga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.03โน3,315
$23.55โน2,228
48.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.19โน491
$1.96โน186
164.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.70โน1,012
$8.50โน804
25.88%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Bangalore
Shivamogga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.18โน1,720
$8.31โน786
118.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.06โน573
$6.86โน649
-11.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.69โน443
$2.37โน224
97.89%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Bangalore
Shivamogga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114โน10.8K
$51.8โน4,900
121.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,285โน310.8K
$1,916โน181.3K
71.46%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Bangalore
Shivamogga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.11โน2,660
$33.58โน3,178
-16.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.30โน2,867
$28.68โน2,713
5.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.0โน5,113
$52.0โน4,922
3.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.14โน3,798
$23.65โน2,237
69.73%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Bangalore
Shivamogga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$306โน28.9K
$122โน11.5K
151.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180โน17.0K
$86.0โน8,134
109.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$819โน77.5K
$273โน25.8K
200.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477โน45.1K
$178โน16.8K
167.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,796โน169.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$926โน87.6K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Bangalore
Shivamogga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$931โน88.1K
$422โน39.9K
120.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.19
8.47
8.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bangalore: April 26, 2026
Last update for Shivamogga: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $306 in Bangalore and $122 in Shivamogga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBangalore pays 120% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $17 in Bangalore vs $15 in Shivamogga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $131 vs $95 per month, with Shivamogga cheaper across the board.
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 Shivamogga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bangalore or Shivamogga?
Shivamogga wins on cost โ living expenses run 55% lower than in Bangalore. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shivamogga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bangalore or Shivamogga?
Bangalore pays 120% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bangalore vs Shivamogga?
Rent for a central apartment: $306 in Bangalore versus $122 in Shivamogga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Bangalore vs Shivamogga?
A monthly transit pass in Shivamogga runs roughly 66% less than in Bangalore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Bangalore and Shivamogga?
Childcare runs $114 in Bangalore versus $51.8 in Shivamogga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Bangalore or Shivamogga?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Shivamogga gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bangalore or Shivamogga?
Both work as nomad bases, but Shivamogga delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $371 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Shivamogga hard to pass up.
How safe is Bangalore compared to Shivamogga?
Safety-wise, Bangalore and Shivamogga 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 Shivamogga gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 55% less than in Bangalore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.