Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Delhi and in Mahabad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $522 per month in Delhi vs $522 in Mahabad, rent included.
Delhi $522
Mahabad $522
A couple spends around $872 per month in Delhi vs $849 in Mahabad, rent included.
Delhi $872
Mahabad $849
A family of three spends $1,222 per month in Delhi vs $1,177 in Mahabad, rent included.
Delhi $1,222
Mahabad $1,177
😐
Delhi and Mahabad have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊
Both Delhi and Mahabad are more affordable than the global median – Delhi61% lower, Mahabad61% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Mahabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70₹351
$2.97$2.97
24.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.05₹1,999
$17.06$17.06
23.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.73₹354
$4.06$4.06
-8.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.80$0.80
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.08$1.08
-
Cappuccino
$2.35₹223
$1.13$1.13
107.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₹35.21
$0.52$0.52
-28.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹13.93
$0.94$0.94
-84.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₹203
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06₹291
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Mahabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69₹65.1
$0.65$0.65
6.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53₹50.0
$0.51$0.51
3.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77₹73.1
$2.07$2.07
-62.80%
Eggs
$1.11₹105
$1.18$1.18
-5.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.63₹440
$4.30$4.30
7.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.52₹334
$3.21$3.21
9.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$7.58$7.58
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.00₹190
$1.00$1.00
100.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.74₹70.5
$1.55$1.55
-52.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₹92.6
$0.86$0.86
12.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53₹49.92
$0.61$0.61
-13.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30₹28.61
$0.54$0.54
-44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.40₹37.82
$0.47$0.47
-14.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42₹39.62
$0.53$0.53
-20.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.81
$0.26$0.26
19.23%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.92$0.92
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.52$0.52
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.34$1.34
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94₹469
$2.14$2.14
130.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.21₹779
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58₹150
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69₹255
-
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.19₹588
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Mahabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46₹43.46
$0.15$0.15
206.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.78₹1,498
$8.76$8.76
80.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07₹102
$0.44$0.44
143.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹25.66
$0.29$0.29
-6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.58₹150
$2.87$2.87
-44.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹101
$0.10$0.10
970.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$10.7K₹1.0M
$47.7K$47.7K
-77.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K₹1.8M
$47.6K$47.6K
-60.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
Mahabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.37₹4,024
$12.32$12.32
243.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.03₹383
$1.58$1.58
155.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.95₹660
$3.76$3.76
84.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Mahabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.18₹1,821
$18.63$18.63
2.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.92₹752
$11.75$11.75
-32.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.27₹500
$1.97$1.97
167.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Mahabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$100₹9,525
$106$106
-5.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,247₹213.4K
$2,234$2,234
0.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Mahabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.11₹2,290
$23.20$23.20
3.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.85₹2,645
$28.48$28.48
-2.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.4₹4,977
$96.3$96.3
-45.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.90₹4,074
$71.4$71.4
-39.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Mahabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$267₹25.4K
$264$264
1.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156₹14.8K
$211$211
-26.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$734₹69.7K
$728$728
0.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394₹37.5K
$408$408
-3.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,507₹238.0K
$1,131$1,131
121.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,020₹96.8K
$530$530
92.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Mahabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$608₹57.7K
$253$253
140.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
24.3
-65.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Delhi: October 12, 2026
Last update for Mahabad: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Delhi
$156 29.9%
Mahabad
$211 40.5% ↑ 35.5%$55
🛒Groceries & Markets
Delhi
$109 20.9%
Mahabad
$105 20.1% ↓ 3.7%$4
🍽Eating Out
Delhi
$88 16.8%
Mahabad
$55 10.6% ↓ 37%$33
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
$66 12.7%
Mahabad
$99 18.9% ↑ 49%$32
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
$53 10.2%
Mahabad
$18 3.4% ↓ 66.9%$36
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
$30 5.7%
Mahabad
$23 4.3% ↓ 24%$7.1
🚌Getting Around
Delhi
$20 3.8%
Mahabad
$11 2.2% ↓ 43.7%$8.8
🏠Accommodation & Living
Delhi
$394 32.3%
Mahabad
$408 34.7% ↑ 3.4%$13
🛒Groceries & Markets
Delhi
$236 19.3%
Mahabad
$256 21.7% ↑ 8.5%$20
🍽Eating Out
Delhi
$279 22.9%
Mahabad
$195 16.6% ↓ 30.2%$84
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
$147 12.1%
Mahabad
$219 18.6% ↑ 49%$72
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
$57 4.7%
Mahabad
$19 1.6% ↓ 66.5%$38
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
$67 5.5%
Mahabad
$57 4.8% ↓ 15.5%$10
🚌Getting Around
Delhi
$41 3.4%
Mahabad
$23 1.9% ↓ 44.2%$18
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Delhi versus $264 in Mahabad. 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 140% higher in Delhi. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Delhi versus $17.00 in Mahabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $109 vs $105 – making Mahabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Mahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Delhi compared to Mahabad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $783 per month in Delhi and $783 in Mahabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Delhi and Mahabad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Delhi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Delhi and Mahabad?
Kindergarten costs $100 per month in Delhi and $106 in Mahabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,000 go in Delhi compared to Mahabad?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $522 in Delhi and $522 in Mahabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Delhi or Mahabad?
Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Delhi or Mahabad 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 Mahabad?
If budget matters most, go with Mahabad. 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.