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: $527 in Delhi versus $486 in Chandigarh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $880 in Delhi versus $764 in Chandigarh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,232 in Delhi versus $1,042 in Chandigarh.

Living in Delhi is roughly 8% more expensive than in Chandigarh, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Delhi 61% lower, Chandigarh 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 ₹352

$3.05 ₹293

20.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.58 ₹1,975

$13.40 ₹1,286

53.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.87 ₹372

$4.28 ₹410

-9.58%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₹227

$2.63 ₹252

-9.89%

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

$0.38 ₹36.50

$0.43 ₹41.66

-11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ₹15.66

$0.23 ₹21.90

-30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 ₹197

$2.12 ₹203

-2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 ₹297

$3.11 ₹298

-0.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 ₹66.2

$0.72 ₹68.7

-4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 ₹49.83

$0.54 ₹52.1

-3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 ₹75.7

$0.84 ₹80.2

-5.95%

Eggs

$1.12 ₹107

$0.94 ₹90.4

19.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 ₹424

$5.08 ₹488

-12.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ₹326

$2.87 ₹275

18.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ₹193

$1.84 ₹177

9.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 ₹71.4

$0.76 ₹73.2

-2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 ₹94.0

$1.08 ₹103

-9.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 ₹52.1

$0.63 ₹60.6

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 ₹27.71

$0.32 ₹31.11

-9.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₹39.14

$0.35 ₹33.41

17.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 ₹46.64

$0.69 ₹66.5

-28.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₹27.55

$0.30 ₹28.51

-3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.96 ₹475

$4.95 ₹475

0.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.59 ₹824

$11.58 ₹1,111

-25.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₹160

$1.73 ₹166

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₹260

$2.64 ₹253

2.65%

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

$6.18 ₹593

$6.77 ₹649

-8.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ₹41.90

$0.30 ₹28.55

46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.54 ₹1,491

$3.63 ₹348

328.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 ₹91.9

$1.07 ₹103

-10.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₹23.84

$0.24 ₹23.03

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 ₹153

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₹105

$1.07 ₹103

2.80%

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

$11.4K ₹1.1M

$12.7K ₹1.2M

-10.22%

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

$19.2K ₹1.8M

$25.3K ₹2.4M

-24.20%

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

$41.81 ₹4,012

$44.94 ₹4,311

-6.96%

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

$4.10 ₹393

$4.80 ₹460

-14.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.84 ₹656

$7.01 ₹672

-2.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.63 ₹1,883

$21.31 ₹2,044

-7.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.42 ₹807

$7.99 ₹766

5.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 ₹491

$3.09 ₹296

65.70%

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

$99.2 ₹9,519

$58.7 ₹5,634

68.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,050 ₹196.7K

$2,483 ₹238.2K

-17.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.16 ₹2,414

$26.60 ₹2,552

-5.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.75 ₹2,758

$25.15 ₹2,413

14.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.9 ₹5,070

$57.8 ₹5,546

-8.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.54 ₹4,465

$43.90 ₹4,212

6.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₹25.9K

$170 ₹16.3K

58.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 ₹14.6K

$117 ₹11.2K

30.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$690 ₹66.2K

$456 ₹43.7K

51.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 ₹35.5K

$283 ₹27.2K

30.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,525 ₹242.3K

$2,951 ₹283.1K

-14.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$950 ₹91.2K

$1,768 ₹169.6K

-46.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 ₹55.8K

$438 ₹42.0K

32.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.6

7.50%

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

Last update for Delhi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chandigarh: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Delhi and $170 in Chandigarh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Delhi pays 33% 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: $21.00 in Delhi vs $13.00 in Chandigarh. Groceries flip the comparison at $109 vs $116, with Delhi 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

Delhi vs Chandigarh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chandigarh wins on cost – living expenses run 8% 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.

Average pay runs 33% higher in Delhi, 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: $270 in Delhi versus $170 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 328% less than in Delhi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $99.2 in Delhi versus $58.7 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 8% less than in Delhi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.