Cost of Living Comparison Between Chandigarh and Surat Cost of Living Comparison Between Chandigarh and Surat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $486 in Chandigarh versus $823 in Surat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $764 in Chandigarh versus $851 in Surat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,042 in Chandigarh versus $879 in Surat.

Living in Chandigarh costs roughly 41% less than in Surat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chandigarh 64% lower, Surat 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 ₹293

$3.09 ₹296

-1.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.40 ₹1,286

$10.42 ₹1,000

28.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.28 ₹410

$3.11 ₹298

37.62%

Cappuccino

$2.63 ₹252

$1.85 ₹178

42.16%

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

$0.43 ₹41.66

$0.37 ₹35.15

16.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₹21.90

$0.16 ₹15.30

43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ₹203

$2.95 ₹283

-28.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 ₹298

$3.12 ₹299

-0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 ₹68.7

$0.70 ₹66.7

2.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₹52.1

$0.50 ₹47.92

8.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₹80.2

$0.67 ₹64.0

25.37%

Eggs

$0.94 ₹90.4

$0.97 ₹93.0

-3.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.08 ₹488

$4.39 ₹421

15.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.87 ₹275

$2.71 ₹260

5.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 ₹177

$1.67 ₹160

10.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 ₹73.2

$0.58 ₹55.5

31.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 ₹103

$0.78 ₹74.7

38.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 ₹60.6

$0.58 ₹55.3

8.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 ₹31.11

$0.34 ₹33.07

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₹33.41

$0.40 ₹38.33

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ₹66.5

$0.45 ₹42.89

53.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹28.51

$0.32 ₹31.10

-6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₹475

$4.99 ₹479

-0.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 ₹1,111

$7.43 ₹712

55.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₹166

$1.83 ₹175

-5.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 ₹253

$2.97 ₹285

-11.11%

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

$6.77 ₹649

$6.01 ₹577

12.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₹28.55

$0.22 ₹20.97

36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₹348

$5.25 ₹504

-30.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 ₹103

$0.54 ₹52.1

98.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₹23.03

$0.20 ₹19.14

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 ₹153

$1.07 ₹102

48.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ₹103

$1.13 ₹108

-5.31%

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

$12.7K ₹1.2M

$11.9K ₹1.1M

6.85%

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

$25.3K ₹2.4M

$18.4K ₹1.8M

37.28%

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

$44.94 ₹4,311

$37.16 ₹3,566

20.94%

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

$4.80 ₹460

$3.67 ₹352

30.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.01 ₹672

$7.39 ₹709

-5.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.31 ₹2,044

$18.59 ₹1,783

14.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.99 ₹766

$5.29 ₹507

51.04%

Cinema Ticket

$3.09 ₹296

$2.80 ₹269

10.36%

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

$58.7 ₹5,634

$32.56 ₹3,124

80.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,483 ₹238.2K

$861 ₹82.6K

188.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.60 ₹2,552

$22.53 ₹2,162

18.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.15 ₹2,413

$24.73 ₹2,373

1.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.8 ₹5,546

$40.68 ₹3,903

42.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.90 ₹4,212

$33.29 ₹3,194

31.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 ₹16.3K

$221 ₹21.2K

-23.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 ₹11.2K

$496 ₹47.6K

-76.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₹43.7K

$384 ₹36.8K

18.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₹27.2K

$199 ₹19.1K

42.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,951 ₹283.1K

$660 ₹63.3K

346.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,768 ₹169.6K

$307 ₹29.4K

476.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$438 ₹42.0K

$313 ₹30.1K

39.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.17

-12.76%

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

Last update for Chandigarh: September 14, 2026

Last update for Surat: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $170 in Chandigarh and $221 in Surat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chandigarh pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Chandigarh vs $10.00 in Surat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $100 per month, with Surat 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 Surat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chandigarh wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Surat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chandigarh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 40% higher in Chandigarh, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $170 in Chandigarh versus $221 in Surat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chandigarh runs roughly 45% less than in Surat. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $58.7 in Chandigarh versus $32.56 in Surat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chandigarh 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 Surat 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 Chandigarh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Surat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.