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: $522 in Dehradun versus $386 in Amritsar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $761 in Dehradun versus $596 in Amritsar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,000 in Dehradun versus $807 in Amritsar.

Living in Dehradun is roughly 35% more expensive than in Amritsar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dehradun 62% lower, Amritsar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.88 ₹276

$2.09 ₹200

37.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.41 ₹995

$8.21 ₹784

26.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.65 ₹349

$3.34 ₹319

9.28%

Cappuccino

$2.15 ₹205

$1.98 ₹189

8.59%

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

$0.39 ₹37.01

$0.43 ₹41.54

-9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ₹16.07

$0.22 ₹21.04

-22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 ₹183

$1.54 ₹148

24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 ₹297

$3.10 ₹297

0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₹69.4

$0.72 ₹69.2

1.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 ₹46.76

$0.57 ₹54.0

-14.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.7

$0.89 ₹85.1

-32.58%

Eggs

$0.85 ₹81.5

$0.89 ₹85.3

-4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₹492

$4.24 ₹405

21.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 ₹312

$2.95 ₹282

10.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 ₹183

$1.79 ₹171

7.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 ₹71.8

$0.77 ₹73.9

-2.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.64 ₹61.6

$0.58 ₹55.4

10.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 ₹42.70

$0.44 ₹42.38

2.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 ₹26.39

$0.33 ₹31.65

-15.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₹35.87

$0.34 ₹32.94

11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 ₹47.98

$0.33 ₹31.72

51.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹28.91

$0.30 ₹28.30

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ₹437

$5.11 ₹489

-10.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 ₹948

$11.53 ₹1,102

-13.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 ₹141

$1.72 ₹165

-14.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₹198

$2.71 ₹259

-23.62%

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

$4.97 ₹475

$5.62 ₹537

-11.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₹36.47

$0.38 ₹36.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 ₹1,202

$20.83 ₹1,990

-39.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 ₹99.1

$1.08 ₹103

-3.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 ₹29.23

$0.22 ₹21.05

40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ₹156

$1.60 ₹153

1.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ₹102

$1.13 ₹108

-6.19%

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

$13.3K ₹1.3M

$12.7K ₹1.2M

4.60%

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

$17.8K ₹1.7M

$25.1K ₹2.4M

-29.05%

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

$65.5 ₹6,260

$46.89 ₹4,480

39.73%

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

$3.78 ₹361

$3.05 ₹291

23.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.14 ₹682

$6.85 ₹655

4.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.35 ₹1,562

$29.51 ₹2,820

-44.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.75 ₹931

$5.24 ₹500

86.07%

Cinema Ticket

$3.69 ₹353

$3.18 ₹304

16.04%

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

$50.8 ₹4,855

$38.60 ₹3,688

31.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,264 ₹407.3K

$600 ₹57.3K

610.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.71 ₹2,361

$27.87 ₹2,663

-11.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.02 ₹2,677

$25.16 ₹2,404

11.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.88 ₹3,714

$55.5 ₹5,304

-29.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.60 ₹3,783

$44.73 ₹4,274

-11.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$220 ₹21.0K

$62.3 ₹5,952

253.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₹15.0K

$31.42 ₹3,002

399.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ₹40.5K

$116 ₹11.1K

264.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₹24.9K

$78.6 ₹7,510

231.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$742 ₹70.9K

$821 ₹78.5K

-9.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$462 ₹44.1K

$626 ₹59.8K

-26.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$374 ₹35.8K

$691 ₹66.1K

-45.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

11.00%

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

Last update for Dehradun: September 7, 2026

Last update for Amritsar: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $220 in Dehradun and $62.3 in Amritsar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amritsar pays 85% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $10.00 in Dehradun vs $8.00 in Amritsar. Groceries flip the comparison at $107 vs $109, with Dehradun 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 35% 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, salaries run 85% lower in Amritsar. 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: $220 in Dehradun versus $62.3 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 $8.00 versus $10.00 in Dehradun. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $522 per month in Dehradun versus $386 in Amritsar – a 35% 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 35% less than in Dehradun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.