Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehradun and Amritsar

For one person, living is cheaper in Amritsar: $426 a month against $517 in Dehradun, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Dehradun outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Dehradun, India
Amritsar, India
Dehradun
🇮🇳 India
$517
/mo nomad
Amritsar
🇮🇳 India
$426
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dehradun and in Amritsar

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $517 in Dehradun versus $426 in Amritsar.

  • Dehradun $517
  • Amritsar $426

Estimated couple costs with rent: $768 in Dehradun versus $680 in Amritsar.

  • Dehradun $768
  • Amritsar $680

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,019 in Dehradun versus $934 in Amritsar.

  • Dehradun $1,019
  • Amritsar $934

Living in Dehradun is roughly 21% more expensive than in Amritsar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dehradun 62% lower, Amritsar 69% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dehradun
Amritsar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.21 ₹305
$2.08 ₹197
54.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.54 ₹1,002
$8.42 ₹801
25.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.62 ₹345
$3.45 ₹329
4.93%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ₹174
$1.90 ₹180
-3.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹34.33
$0.40 ₹37.98
-10.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.18
$0.20 ₹19.00
-15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.87 ₹178
$1.57 ₹149
19.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ₹252
$3.10 ₹294
-14.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dehradun
Amritsar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 ₹66.5
$0.68 ₹65.0
2.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 ₹50.5
$0.55 ₹52.0
-3.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.3
$0.86 ₹81.8
-11.63%
Eggs
$0.89 ₹85.0
$0.85 ₹81.0
4.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.51 ₹524
$4.32 ₹411
27.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.23 ₹308
$2.80 ₹267
15.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.91 ₹182
$1.64 ₹156
16.46%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.5
$0.76 ₹72.2
-
Oranges (1kg)
$0.64 ₹61.1
$0.63 ₹59.6
1.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 ₹44.88
$0.44 ₹42.28
6.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.28 ₹26.39
$0.28 ₹26.31
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₹35.49
$0.32 ₹30.22
15.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 ₹44.08
$0.33 ₹31.83
39.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 ₹25.38
$0.32 ₹30.49
-15.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.15 ₹490
$4.93 ₹469
4.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 ₹943
$11.76 ₹1,118
-15.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₹145
$1.65 ₹157
-7.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 ₹199
$2.71 ₹258
-22.88%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$4.99 ₹474
$5.46 ₹519
-8.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Dehradun
Amritsar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 ₹14.22
$0.36 ₹33.88
-58.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.75 ₹1,213
$21.36 ₹2,031
-40.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.06 ₹101
$1.07 ₹102
-0.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₹31.82
$0.22 ₹20.95
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ₹146
$1.66 ₹158
-7.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ₹107
$1.08 ₹103
3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.1K ₹1.1M
$11.3K ₹1.1M
-2.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.7K ₹1.7M
$25.3K ₹2.4M
-29.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dehradun
Amritsar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.6 ₹6,046
$38.82 ₹3,692
63.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.67 ₹349
$2.99 ₹284
22.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.14 ₹679
$6.79 ₹646
5.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dehradun
Amritsar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.59 ₹1,578
$29.42 ₹2,798
-43.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.70 ₹922
$5.17 ₹492
87.62%
Cinema Ticket
$3.72 ₹354
$3.07 ₹292
21.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dehradun
Amritsar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$49.26 ₹4,685
$38.98 ₹3,707
26.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,328 ₹411.7K
$606 ₹57.7K
614.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dehradun
Amritsar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.12 ₹2,389
$26.94 ₹2,563
-6.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.83 ₹2,646
$25.23 ₹2,400
10.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$39.01 ₹3,710
$54.0 ₹5,135
-27.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.69 ₹3,775
$43.71 ₹4,157
-9.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dehradun
Amritsar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$214 ₹20.4K
$107 ₹10.2K
100.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 ₹15.1K
$75.9 ₹7,217
109.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$403 ₹38.4K
$282 ₹26.8K
43.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$285 ₹27.1K
$211 ₹20.1K
35.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$964 ₹91.7K
$1,142 ₹108.6K
-15.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$562 ₹53.4K
$821 ₹78.1K
-31.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dehradun
Amritsar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$363 ₹34.5K
$701 ₹66.7K
-48.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.88
8
11.00%

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

Last update for Dehradun: October 27, 2026

Last update for Amritsar: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dehradun
$159
Amritsar
$76 52.2% $83
Groceries & Markets
Dehradun
$109
Amritsar
$107 1.4% $1.5
Eating Out
Dehradun
$75
Amritsar
$66 12.2% $9.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dehradun
$74
Amritsar
$49 34.7% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Dehradun
$59
Amritsar
$67 13.8% $8.2
Sport & Entertainment
Dehradun
$24
Amritsar
$36 47.9% $12
Getting Around
Dehradun
$16
Amritsar
$25 55.1% $8.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Dehradun and $107 in Amritsar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amritsar pays 93% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11 in Dehradun vs $8 in Amritsar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $109 vs $107 per month, with Amritsar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Dehradun
🇮🇳 Amritsar
🕒 Local time
17:27 5:27 PM
17:27 5:27 PM
Same time as Dehradun
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
447,808
1,132,761
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.1 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
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  • Dehradun Amritsar 340 km
From you
  • Dehradun
  • Amritsar

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
Dehradun vs Amritsar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dehradun or Amritsar?
Amritsar wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Dehradun. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Amritsar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Dehradun or in Amritsar?
On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Dehradun. 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 Dehradun compared to Amritsar?
Rent for a central apartment: $214 in Dehradun versus $107 in Amritsar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Dehradun compared to Amritsar?
A monthly transit pass in Dehradun runs roughly 40% less than in Amritsar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
How much does it cost to live in Dehradun compared to Amritsar?
All in, you’ll spend $517 per month in Dehradun versus $426 in Amritsar – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Dehradun or in Amritsar?
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.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Amritsar is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dehradun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

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