Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Kollam Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Kollam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $539 per month in Delhi vs $310 in Kollam, rent included.

A couple spends around $857 per month in Delhi vs $495 in Kollam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,174 per month in Delhi vs $680 in Kollam, rent included.

Delhi costs about 74% more than Kollam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Delhi and Kollam are more affordable than the global median – Delhi 60% lower, Kollam 77% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Kollam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.76 ₹452
$1.17 ₹111
306.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.65 ₹1,866
$6.83 ₹648
187.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.13 ₹392
$4.11 ₹390
0.49%
Cappuccino
$2.10 ₹199
$1.31 ₹124
60.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₹45.40
$0.37 ₹35.21
29.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 ₹13.70
$0.14 ₹13.74
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 ₹194
$1.70 ₹161
20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 ₹337
$2.83 ₹269
25.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Kollam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 ₹69.8
$0.62 ₹58.9
17.74%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₹53.0
$0.43 ₹40.99
30.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ₹87.4
$0.51 ₹48.58
80.39%
Eggs
$1.17 ₹111
$0.85 ₹80.7
37.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.63 ₹440
$5.27 ₹501
-12.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.50 ₹332
$2.28 ₹216
53.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 ₹193
$2.16 ₹205
-6.02%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 ₹80.6
$0.58 ₹54.8
46.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 ₹91.6
$0.78 ₹74.0
23.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 ₹57.3
$0.48 ₹45.99
25.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 ₹39.81
$0.48 ₹45.86
-12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 ₹48.15
$0.36 ₹34.63
41.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ₹56.2
$0.42 ₹40.06
40.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹34.62
$0.32 ₹30.41
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11 ₹391
$3.55 ₹337
15.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.10 ₹959
$3.16 ₹300
219.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ₹169
$2.22 ₹211
-19.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ₹263
$2.85 ₹271
-2.81%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.62 ₹534
$4.62 ₹439
21.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Kollam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ₹50.8
$0.11 ₹10.91
390.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.58 ₹1,099
$7.97 ₹756
45.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 ₹53.9
$1.18 ₹112
-51.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ₹26.22
$0.30 ₹28.01
-6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 ₹119
$1.67 ₹159
-25.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ₹111
$1.22 ₹116
-4.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K ₹1.6M
$11.5K ₹1.1M
50.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K ₹2.3M
$16.2K ₹1.5M
48.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
Kollam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.6 ₹6,232
$27.69 ₹2,629
137.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30 ₹409
$3.24 ₹307
32.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.90 ₹750
$5.93 ₹563
33.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Kollam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.40 ₹1,936
$11.83 ₹1,123
72.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 ₹965
$14.14 ₹1,342
-28.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.75 ₹451
$1.71 ₹162
177.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Kollam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.2 ₹7,612
$23.35 ₹2,217
243.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,059 ₹195.4K
$1,545 ₹146.7K
33.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Kollam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.26 ₹2,588
$18.05 ₹1,713
51.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.85 ₹3,023
$19.55 ₹1,856
62.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.67 ₹4,716
$28.02 ₹2,661
77.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.83 ₹3,496
$27.00 ₹2,563
36.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Kollam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$242 ₹22.9K
$92.2 ₹8,749
162.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$140 ₹13.2K
$53.2 ₹5,048
162.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 ₹56.5K
$205 ₹19.5K
190.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 ₹31.2K
$127 ₹12.0K
159.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,553 ₹242.4K
$866 ₹82.2K
194.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$922 ₹87.5K
$452 ₹42.9K
103.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Kollam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$535 ₹50.8K
$541 ₹51.3K
-1.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
8.97
0.33%

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

Last update for Delhi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kollam: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Delhi versus $92.2 in Kollam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1% higher in Kollam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Delhi versus $7.00 in Kollam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $118 vs $94.0 – making Kollam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kollam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Delhi and Kollam compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $539 in Delhi, $310 in Kollam – roughly 74% apart. Delhi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Delhi compared to Kollam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $809 per month in Delhi and $464 in Kollam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Delhi and Kollam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kollam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Delhi and $7.00 in Kollam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Delhi or Kollam?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $539 in Delhi and $310 in Kollam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $800 go in Delhi vs Kollam?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $539 in Delhi and $310 in Kollam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Delhi or Kollam?
Families tend to lean toward Kollam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Delhi or Kollam safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Delhi and Kollam?
If budget matters most, go with Kollam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Delhi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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