Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Chandigarh Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Chandigarh

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $546 in Delhi versus $455 in Chandigarh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $861 in Delhi versus $739 in Chandigarh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,176 in Delhi versus $1,023 in Chandigarh.

Living in Delhi is roughly 20% more expensive than Chandigarh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Delhi 59% lower, Chandigarh 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.75 ₹455

$3.16 ₹303

50.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.98 ₹1,912

$14.21 ₹1,360

40.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.97 ₹380

$3.41 ₹327

16.42%

Cappuccino

$2.05 ₹196

$2.00 ₹192

2.50%

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

$0.47 ₹45.26

$0.39 ₹37.50

20.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₹14.66

$0.20 ₹19.12

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 ₹197

$1.71 ₹164

20.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ₹324

$2.93 ₹281

15.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 ₹71.7

$0.77 ₹73.9

-2.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 ₹53.6

$0.58 ₹55.9

-3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₹87.4

$0.90 ₹85.9

1.11%

Eggs

$1.12 ₹107

$1.06 ₹101

5.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 ₹435

$5.45 ₹522

-16.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 ₹340

$3.03 ₹290

17.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ₹193

$1.99 ₹190

1.01%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 ₹80.7

$0.81 ₹78.0

3.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 ₹94.9

$0.97 ₹93.1

2.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 ₹56.6

$0.56 ₹54.0

5.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 ₹37.23

$0.40 ₹37.84

-2.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 ₹51.9

$0.46 ₹43.88

17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₹58.1

$0.49 ₹46.85

24.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₹35.13

$0.32 ₹30.38

15.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 ₹398

$4.01 ₹384

3.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₹878

$9.79 ₹936

-6.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₹178

$1.72 ₹165

8.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₹276

$2.76 ₹264

4.35%

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

$5.57 ₹533

$5.28 ₹506

5.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₹50.8

$0.30 ₹28.89

76.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.61 ₹1,111

$8.50 ₹814

36.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 ₹53.9

$0.78 ₹74.6

-28.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ₹26.57

$0.24 ₹23.09

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₹124

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₹112

$1.15 ₹110

1.74%

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

$17.7K ₹1.7M

$14.5K ₹1.4M

22.05%

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

$23.9K ₹2.3M

$29.0K ₹2.8M

-17.47%

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

$66.4 ₹6,352

$47.95 ₹4,588

38.42%

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

$4.31 ₹413

$3.47 ₹332

24.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.99 ₹764

$7.14 ₹683

11.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.25 ₹1,938

$19.33 ₹1,850

4.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 ₹972

$10.12 ₹969

0.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.61 ₹441

$2.88 ₹276

60.07%

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

$78.5 ₹7,515

$61.9 ₹5,925

26.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,010 ₹192.3K

$1,968 ₹188.4K

2.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.20 ₹2,603

$24.50 ₹2,344

11.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.17 ₹2,983

$24.07 ₹2,303

29.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.50 ₹4,641

$48.81 ₹4,671

-0.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.01 ₹3,446

$32.30 ₹3,091

11.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 ₹22.9K

$174 ₹16.7K

36.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 ₹12.9K

$104 ₹9,920

30.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 ₹55.9K

$403 ₹38.5K

45.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 ₹30.8K

$271 ₹25.9K

18.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,503 ₹239.5K

$3,407 ₹326.1K

-26.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$931 ₹89.1K

$2,069 ₹198.0K

-54.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 ₹50.8K

$435 ₹41.7K

21.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.3

8.43%

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

Last update for Delhi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chandigarh: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Delhi and $174 in Chandigarh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Delhi pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Delhi vs $14.00 in Chandigarh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $116 per month, with Chandigarh 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

Delhi vs Chandigarh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chandigarh wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Delhi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chandigarh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Delhi pays 22% 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: $239 in Delhi versus $174 in Chandigarh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chandigarh runs roughly 37% less than in Delhi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $78.5 in Delhi versus $61.9 in Chandigarh. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chandigarh 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, Delhi and Chandigarh 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 Chandigarh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Delhi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.