Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehradun and Amritsar Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehradun and Amritsar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $450 in Dehradun versus $388 in Amritsar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $826 in Dehradun versus $588 in Amritsar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,203 in Dehradun versus $789 in Amritsar.

Living in Dehradun is roughly 16% more expensive than Amritsar, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ₹228

$2.39 ₹228

0.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.47 ₹902

$10.03 ₹955

-5.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.98 ₹379

$3.54 ₹337

12.43%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₹177

$1.72 ₹164

7.56%

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

$0.43 ₹41.16

$0.39 ₹37.32

10.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ₹17.22

$0.20 ₹19.05

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 ₹191

$1.72 ₹164

16.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₹281

$2.96 ₹282

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₹69.9

$0.67 ₹63.4

8.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 ₹43.02

$0.57 ₹54.5

-21.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 ₹68.9

$0.89 ₹84.5

-19.10%

Eggs

$0.91 ₹86.3

$0.87 ₹83.2

4.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.87 ₹464

$4.73 ₹450

2.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ₹348

$3.01 ₹287

21.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₹181

$1.54 ₹146

23.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 ₹66.1

$0.75 ₹71.2

-8.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 ₹72.8

$0.69 ₹66.0

10.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 ₹55.8

$0.43 ₹40.79

37.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 ₹35.36

$0.35 ₹33.13

5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 ₹42.27

$0.45 ₹42.89

-2.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₹52.8

$0.36 ₹34.45

52.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₹32.71

$0.32 ₹30.01

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ₹423

$4.16 ₹397

6.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 ₹969

$9.76 ₹930

4.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₹164

$1.68 ₹160

2.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₹212

$2.84 ₹270

-21.83%

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

$5.80 ₹552

$5.17 ₹493

12.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₹26.66

$0.43 ₹40.54

-34.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.75 ₹1,310

$23.41 ₹2,230

-41.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₹73.7

$0.77 ₹73.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₹20.93

$0.24 ₹22.93

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 ₹197

$1.31 ₹125

57.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₹110

$1.17 ₹111

-0.85%

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

$12.8K ₹1.2M

$14.0K ₹1.3M

-8.76%

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

$20.3K ₹1.9M

$29.4K ₹2.8M

-30.77%

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

$41.83 ₹3,984

$47.82 ₹4,555

-12.53%

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

$3.66 ₹349

$3.48 ₹332

5.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.51 ₹716

$7.13 ₹679

5.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.53 ₹1,574

$25.16 ₹2,397

-34.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.04 ₹1,052

$4.15 ₹396

166.02%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₹514

$2.88 ₹274

87.50%

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

$66.3 ₹6,316

$35.21 ₹3,354

88.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,116 ₹106.3K

$605 ₹57.6K

84.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.07 ₹2,102

$24.32 ₹2,317

-9.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.14 ₹2,680

$23.64 ₹2,252

19.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.15 ₹4,491

$49.44 ₹4,709

-4.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.43 ₹4,042

$33.23 ₹3,165

27.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 ₹17.3K

$68.7 ₹6,547

163.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 ₹10.2K

$34.68 ₹3,303

209.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 ₹39.1K

$129 ₹12.3K

218.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 ₹45.7K

$86.6 ₹8,250

453.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$737 ₹70.2K

$810 ₹77.1K

-8.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$458 ₹43.6K

$624 ₹59.5K

-26.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 ₹35.5K

$522 ₹49.7K

-28.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

8.3

-0.60%

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

Last update for Dehradun: May 31, 2026

Last update for Amritsar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Dehradun and $68.7 in Amritsar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amritsar 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: $9.00 in Dehradun vs $10.00 in Amritsar. Groceries flip the comparison at $113 vs $106, with Amritsar cheaper for home cooking.

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

Amritsar wins on cost – living expenses run 16% 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.

On paper, Amritsar earns 40% 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: $181 in Dehradun 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 $9.00 in Dehradun. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $450 per month in Dehradun versus $388 in Amritsar – a 16% 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, Dehradun 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 16% less than in Dehradun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.