Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Sarawak

For one person, living is cheaper in Delhi: $526 a month against $933 in Sarawak, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Delhi
🇮🇳 India
$526
/mo nomad
Sarawak
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$933
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Delhi and in Sarawak

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 Sarawak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $526 per month in Delhi vs $933 in Sarawak, rent included.

  • Delhi $526
  • Sarawak $933

A couple spends around $882 per month in Delhi vs $1,391 in Sarawak, rent included.

  • Delhi $882
  • Sarawak $1,391

A family of three spends $1,239 per month in Delhi vs $1,849 in Sarawak, rent included.

  • Delhi $1,239
  • Sarawak $1,849

Delhi is about 44% cheaper than Sarawak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Delhi and Sarawak are more affordable than the global median – Delhi 61% lower, Sarawak 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Sarawak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70 ₹352
$3.65 MYR 14.88
1.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.33 ₹2,026
$19.77 MYR 80.6
7.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.69 ₹351
$4.75 MYR 19.38
-22.32%
Cappuccino
$2.30 ₹218
$2.88 MYR 11.74
-20.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₹36.82
$0.81 MYR 3.29
-51.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.05
$0.39 MYR 1.61
-61.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 ₹195
$3.60 MYR 14.68
-43.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ₹297
$4.61 MYR 18.81
-32.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Sarawak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 ₹65.9
$1.86 MYR 7.58
-62.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 ₹54.6
$1.04 MYR 4.24
-44.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 ₹74.0
$1.48 MYR 6.04
-47.30%
Eggs
$1.15 ₹109
$2.04 MYR 8.32
-43.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.28 ₹407
$13.84 MYR 56.5
-69.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.52 ₹334
$4.30 MYR 17.54
-18.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.43 MYR 38.47
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ₹184
$3.14 MYR 12.83
-38.54%
Banana (1kg)
$0.79 ₹75.1
$1.71 MYR 6.97
-53.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 ₹95.6
$2.51 MYR 10.22
-59.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.0
$1.61 MYR 6.55
-67.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.28 ₹26.21
$1.27 MYR 5.18
-77.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₹35.46
$1.15 MYR 4.68
-67.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 ₹41.89
$1.17 MYR 4.79
-62.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.89
$0.53 MYR 2.18
-41.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₹470
$4.54 MYR 18.52
9.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.57 ₹814
$19.12 MYR 78.0
-55.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₹152
$2.94 MYR 12.01
-45.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₹253
$4.51 MYR 18.38
-41.02%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.40 ₹608
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Sarawak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 ₹48.63
$0.71 MYR 2.89
-28.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.59 ₹1,481
$12.15 MYR 49.57
28.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 ₹98.4
$1.25 MYR 5.10
-16.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹25.79
$0.51 MYR 2.07
-47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ₹146
$7.21 MYR 29.41
-78.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ₹106
$0.82 MYR 3.34
35.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.5K ₹1.1M
$42.2K MYR 172.1K
-72.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K ₹1.8M
$34.8K MYR 141.8K
-45.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
Sarawak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.45 ₹4,031
$48.56 MYR 198
-12.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.20 ₹399
$9.65 MYR 39.38
-56.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.89 ₹654
$27.71 MYR 113
-75.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Sarawak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.09 ₹1,908
$40.76 MYR 166
-50.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.89 ₹749
$7.10 MYR 28.98
11.13%
Cinema Ticket
$5.31 ₹504
$4.92 MYR 20.05
7.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Sarawak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$101 ₹9,571
$190 MYR 775
-46.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,315 ₹219.8K
$7,067 MYR 28.8K
-67.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Sarawak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.64 ₹2,340
$56.8 MYR 232
-56.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.82 ₹2,737
$34.52 MYR 141
-16.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.6 ₹5,088
$79.8 MYR 325
-32.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.17 ₹4,194
$75.9 MYR 310
-41.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Sarawak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$271 ₹25.8K
$410 MYR 1,674
-33.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 ₹14.9K
$299 MYR 1,219
-47.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$744 ₹70.6K
$672 MYR 2,742
10.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₹38.4K
$477 MYR 1,946
-15.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,574 ₹244.4K
$2,042 MYR 8,329
26.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,003 ₹95.2K
$1,074 MYR 4,381
-6.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Sarawak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$615 ₹58.4K
$339 MYR 1,381
81.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
4.06
105.17%

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

Last update for Delhi: October 18, 2026

Last update for Sarawak: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Delhi
$157
Sarawak
$299 90.3% $142
Groceries & Markets
Delhi
$110
Sarawak
$258 135% $148
Eating Out
Delhi
$87
Sarawak
$110 26.5% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
$68
Sarawak
$111 63.3% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
$54
Sarawak
$86 60.5% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
$31
Sarawak
$51 64.7% $20
Getting Around
Delhi
$20
Sarawak
$19 6.3% $1.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $271 in Delhi versus $410 in Sarawak. 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 82% higher in Delhi, 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 $21.00 in Delhi versus $20.00 in Sarawak. Groceries tell a different story – $110 in Delhi vs $258 in Sarawak – so Delhi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Delhi
🇲🇾 Sarawak
🕒 Local time
23:21 11:21 PM
01:51 1:51 AM
2 h 30 min ahead of Delhi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
16,787,941 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Delhi Sarawak 4,610 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Delhi
  • Sarawak

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 Sarawak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Delhi and in Sarawak compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $526 in Delhi, $933 in Sarawak – roughly 77% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Delhi compared to Sarawak?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $789 per month in Delhi and $1,399 in Sarawak. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Delhi and Sarawak?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Delhi, 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 $21.00 in Delhi and $20.00 in Sarawak. 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 Sarawak?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $526 in Delhi and $933 in Sarawak. That's a gap of about 77%.
How far does $1,200 go in Delhi compared to Sarawak?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $526 in Delhi and $933 in Sarawak, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Delhi or Sarawak?
Families tend to lean toward Delhi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Delhi or Sarawak 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 Sarawak?
If budget matters most, go with Delhi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sarawak makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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