Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehradun and Surat Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehradun and Surat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $522 in Dehradun versus $810 in Surat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $761 in Dehradun versus $850 in Surat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,000 in Dehradun versus $890 in Surat.

Living in Dehradun costs roughly 36% less than in Surat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dehradun 62% lower, Surat 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.88 ₹276

$3.14 ₹300

-8.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.41 ₹995

$10.65 ₹1,018

-2.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.65 ₹349

$3.24 ₹310

12.65%

Cappuccino

$2.15 ₹205

$1.82 ₹174

18.13%

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

$0.39 ₹37.01

$0.35 ₹33.40

11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ₹16.07

$0.15 ₹14.72

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 ₹183

$2.99 ₹286

-35.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 ₹297

$3.12 ₹298

-0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₹69.4

$0.70 ₹67.1

4.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 ₹46.76

$0.48 ₹45.51

2.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.7

$0.66 ₹62.7

-9.09%

Eggs

$0.85 ₹81.5

$0.91 ₹87.1

-6.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₹492

$4.66 ₹445

10.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 ₹312

$2.87 ₹274

13.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 ₹183

$1.74 ₹166

10.34%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 ₹71.8

$0.63 ₹60.0

19.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.64 ₹61.6

$0.79 ₹75.3

-18.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 ₹42.70

$0.58 ₹55.0

-22.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 ₹26.39

$0.36 ₹34.33

-22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₹35.87

$0.44 ₹41.64

-13.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 ₹47.98

$0.49 ₹46.89

2.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹28.91

$0.30 ₹28.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ₹437

$5.15 ₹492

-11.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 ₹948

$7.52 ₹718

31.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 ₹141

$1.84 ₹176

-20.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₹198

$3.16 ₹302

-34.49%

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

$4.97 ₹475

$6.10 ₹583

-18.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₹36.47

$0.25 ₹23.93

52.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 ₹1,202

$5.43 ₹518

131.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 ₹99.1

$0.51 ₹48.79

103.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 ₹29.23

$0.20 ₹19.10

55.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ₹156

$1.08 ₹103

50.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ₹102

$1.12 ₹107

-5.36%

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

$13.3K ₹1.3M

$12.0K ₹1.1M

10.68%

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

$17.8K ₹1.7M

$18.9K ₹1.8M

-6.04%

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

$65.5 ₹6,260

$37.30 ₹3,564

75.66%

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

$3.78 ₹361

$3.69 ₹353

2.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.14 ₹682

$7.26 ₹694

-1.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.35 ₹1,562

$18.83 ₹1,799

-13.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.75 ₹931

$5.23 ₹499

86.42%

Cinema Ticket

$3.69 ₹353

$2.98 ₹285

23.83%

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

$50.8 ₹4,855

$33.20 ₹3,172

53.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,264 ₹407.3K

$902 ₹86.2K

372.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.71 ₹2,361

$22.84 ₹2,182

8.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.02 ₹2,677

$25.27 ₹2,414

10.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.88 ₹3,714

$40.92 ₹3,910

-4.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.60 ₹3,783

$32.45 ₹3,100

22.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$220 ₹21.0K

$225 ₹21.5K

-2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₹15.0K

$511 ₹48.8K

-69.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ₹40.5K

$385 ₹36.8K

10.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₹24.9K

$202 ₹19.3K

28.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$742 ₹70.9K

$670 ₹64.0K

10.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$462 ₹44.1K

$311 ₹29.7K

48.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$374 ₹35.8K

$314 ₹30.0K

19.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

9.17

-3.16%

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

Last update for Dehradun: September 7, 2026

Last update for Surat: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $220 in Dehradun and $225 in Surat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dehradun pays 19% 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 $11.00 in Surat. Groceries flip the comparison at $107 vs $103, with Surat 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 Surat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dehradun is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Dehradun, 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: $220 in Dehradun versus $225 in Surat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Surat pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Dehradun – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $11.00 in Surat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Dehradun 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 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 Dehradun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Surat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.