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: $450 in Dehradun versus $888 in Surat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $826 in Dehradun versus $942 in Surat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,203 in Dehradun versus $996 in Surat.

Living in Dehradun costs roughly 49% less than in Surat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dehradun 66% lower, Surat 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ₹229

$3.58 ₹343

-32.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.47 ₹906

$11.41 ₹1,092

-17.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.98 ₹381

$3.42 ₹328

16.37%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₹177

$1.74 ₹166

6.32%

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

$0.43 ₹41.35

$0.40 ₹38.00

7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ₹17.30

$0.20 ₹19.53

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 ₹192

$3.13 ₹299

-35.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₹282

$3.95 ₹378

-25.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₹70.2

$0.73 ₹69.9

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 ₹43.22

$0.53 ₹50.6

-15.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 ₹69.2

$0.67 ₹64.6

7.46%

Eggs

$0.91 ₹86.7

$1.03 ₹98.5

-11.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.87 ₹466

$5.13 ₹491

-5.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ₹349

$3.11 ₹297

17.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₹182

$1.43 ₹137

32.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 ₹66.4

$0.64 ₹61.3

7.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 ₹73.1

$0.95 ₹91.2

-20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 ₹56.1

$0.61 ₹58.3

-3.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 ₹35.53

$0.36 ₹34.37

2.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 ₹42.47

$0.44 ₹41.89

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₹53.1

$0.60 ₹57.1

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₹32.86

$0.35 ₹33.07

-2.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ₹425

$3.86 ₹370

15.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 ₹973

$7.56 ₹723

34.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₹165

$2.57 ₹246

-33.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₹213

$4.01 ₹384

-44.64%

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

$5.80 ₹555

$8.42 ₹806

-31.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₹26.78

$0.24 ₹22.97

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.75 ₹1,316

$5.65 ₹540

143.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₹74.1

$0.97 ₹93.2

-20.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₹21.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 ₹197

$1.18 ₹113

74.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₹111

$1.13 ₹108

2.65%

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

$12.8K ₹1.2M

$11.6K ₹1.1M

10.25%

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

$20.3K ₹1.9M

$21.5K ₹2.1M

-5.31%

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

$41.83 ₹4,003

$38.31 ₹3,666

9.19%

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

$3.66 ₹351

$3.37 ₹323

8.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.51 ₹719

$7.72 ₹739

-2.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.53 ₹1,581

$17.76 ₹1,699

-6.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.04 ₹1,057

$6.74 ₹645

63.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₹516

$2.90 ₹277

86.21%

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

$66.3 ₹6,345

$48.91 ₹4,681

35.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,116 ₹106.8K

$1,294 ₹123.8K

-13.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.07 ₹2,112

$24.00 ₹2,297

-8.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.14 ₹2,692

$24.62 ₹2,356

14.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.15 ₹4,512

$42.46 ₹4,064

11.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.43 ₹4,061

$42.48 ₹4,065

-0.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 ₹17.3K

$241 ₹23.1K

-24.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 ₹10.3K

$557 ₹53.3K

-80.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 ₹39.2K

$506 ₹48.4K

-18.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 ₹45.9K

$275 ₹26.3K

74.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$737 ₹70.6K

$693 ₹66.4K

6.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$458 ₹43.8K

$306 ₹29.3K

49.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 ₹35.7K

$327 ₹31.3K

13.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

9.2

-10.33%

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

Last update for Dehradun: May 31, 2026

Last update for Surat: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Dehradun and $241 in Surat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dehradun pays 14% 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 $11.00 in Surat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $113 vs $113 per month, with Dehradun 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

Dehradun vs Surat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dehradun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Dehradun pays 14% more on average, 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: $181 in Dehradun versus $241 in Surat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Surat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Dehradun – a meal for two runs $9.00 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 98% less than in Surat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.