Cost of Living Comparison Between Chandigarh and Amritsar Cost of Living Comparison Between Chandigarh and Amritsar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $455 in Chandigarh versus $388 in Amritsar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $739 in Chandigarh versus $588 in Amritsar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,023 in Chandigarh versus $789 in Amritsar.

Living in Chandigarh is roughly 17% more expensive than Amritsar, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chandigarh 66% lower, Amritsar 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 ₹303

$2.39 ₹229

32.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.21 ₹1,360

$10.03 ₹960

41.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.41 ₹327

$3.54 ₹339

-3.67%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ₹192

$1.72 ₹165

16.28%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₹37.50

$0.39 ₹37.49

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₹19.12

$0.20 ₹19.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 ₹164

$1.72 ₹165

-0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₹281

$2.96 ₹283

-1.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 ₹73.9

$0.67 ₹63.7

14.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 ₹55.9

$0.57 ₹54.8

1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ₹85.9

$0.89 ₹84.9

1.12%

Eggs

$1.06 ₹101

$0.87 ₹83.6

21.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.45 ₹522

$4.73 ₹452

15.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ₹290

$3.01 ₹288

0.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 ₹190

$1.54 ₹147

29.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹78.0

$0.75 ₹71.5

8.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 ₹93.1

$0.69 ₹66.3

40.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 ₹54.0

$0.43 ₹40.98

30.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 ₹37.84

$0.35 ₹33.28

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₹43.88

$0.45 ₹43.09

2.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 ₹46.85

$0.36 ₹34.61

36.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₹30.38

$0.32 ₹30.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.01 ₹384

$4.16 ₹399

-3.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.79 ₹936

$9.76 ₹934

0.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₹165

$1.68 ₹160

2.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₹264

$2.84 ₹272

-2.82%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.28 ₹506

$5.17 ₹495

2.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₹28.89

$0.43 ₹40.73

-30.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.50 ₹814

$23.41 ₹2,240

-63.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₹74.6

$0.77 ₹73.7

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₹23.09

$0.24 ₹23.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₹124

$1.31 ₹126

-0.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₹110

$1.17 ₹112

-1.71%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$14.5K ₹1.4M

$14.0K ₹1.3M

3.65%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.0K ₹2.8M

$29.4K ₹2.8M

-1.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$47.95 ₹4,588

$47.82 ₹4,576

0.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.47 ₹332

$3.48 ₹333

-0.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.14 ₹683

$7.13 ₹682

0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.33 ₹1,850

$25.16 ₹2,408

-23.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.12 ₹969

$4.15 ₹397

143.86%

Cinema Ticket

$2.88 ₹276

$2.88 ₹275

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$61.9 ₹5,925

$35.21 ₹3,370

75.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 ₹188.4K

$605 ₹57.9K

225.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.50 ₹2,344

$24.32 ₹2,327

0.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.07 ₹2,303

$23.64 ₹2,262

1.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.81 ₹4,671

$49.44 ₹4,731

-1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.30 ₹3,091

$33.23 ₹3,180

-2.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₹16.7K

$68.7 ₹6,577

153.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 ₹9,920

$34.68 ₹3,319

198.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₹38.5K

$129 ₹12.3K

212.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₹25.9K

$86.6 ₹8,288

212.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,407 ₹326.1K

$810 ₹77.5K

320.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,069 ₹198.0K

$624 ₹59.7K

231.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$435 ₹41.7K

$522 ₹49.9K

-16.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.3

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

Last update for Chandigarh: May 30, 2026

Last update for Amritsar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $174 in Chandigarh and $68.7 in Amritsar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amritsar pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Chandigarh vs $10.00 in Amritsar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $106 per month, with Amritsar 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

Chandigarh vs Amritsar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amritsar wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Chandigarh. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Amritsar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Amritsar earns 20% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $174 in Chandigarh versus $68.7 in Amritsar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Amritsar – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $14.00 in Chandigarh. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $455 per month in Chandigarh versus $388 in Amritsar – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Amritsar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chandigarh and Amritsar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Amritsar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Chandigarh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.