Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Varkala Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Varkala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $541 per month in Delhi vs $382 in Varkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $876 per month in Delhi vs $603 in Varkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,210 per month in Delhi vs $823 in Varkala, rent included.

Delhi costs about 42% more than Varkala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Delhi and Varkala are more affordable than the global median – Delhi 59% lower, Varkala 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Varkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.64 ₹448
$2.40 ₹232
93.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.06 ₹1,937
$10.54 ₹1,018
90.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.17 ₹403
$3.62 ₹349
15.19%
Cappuccino
$2.04 ₹197
$1.53 ₹148
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹42.90
$0.41 ₹39.25
7.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.38
$0.16 ₹15.85
6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ₹205
$1.79 ₹173
18.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ₹327
$3.10 ₹299
9.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Varkala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 ₹71.8
$0.70 ₹67.4
5.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₹53.9
$0.45 ₹43.29
24.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 ₹81.7
$0.68 ₹65.3
25.00%
Eggs
$1.16 ₹112
$0.91 ₹87.6
27.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.67 ₹451
$5.06 ₹489
-7.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 ₹328
$2.92 ₹282
16.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.09 ₹202
$1.99 ₹192
5.03%
Banana (1kg)
$0.78 ₹75.4
$0.74 ₹71.1
5.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 ₹95.9
$1.01 ₹97.7
-1.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 ₹58.6
$0.54 ₹51.8
12.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 ₹39.79
$0.38 ₹36.80
7.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 ₹51.4
$0.43 ₹41.33
23.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ₹57.5
$0.48 ₹46.38
22.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹34.95
$0.32 ₹30.48
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01 ₹387
$3.94 ₹380
1.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 ₹902
$7.40 ₹714
26.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₹173
$1.76 ₹170
1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 ₹263
$2.92 ₹282
-6.85%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.71 ₹551
$5.55 ₹536
2.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Varkala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ₹51.9
$0.30 ₹28.97
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.74 ₹1,133
$8.69 ₹839
35.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 ₹58.8
$0.78 ₹75.1
-21.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹29.14
$0.27 ₹26.13
11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 ₹126
$1.42 ₹137
-7.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₹114
$1.21 ₹117
-2.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K ₹1.7M
$13.7K ₹1.3M
27.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K ₹2.3M
$21.7K ₹2.1M
8.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
Varkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.9 ₹6,362
$39.35 ₹3,799
67.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.35 ₹420
$3.56 ₹344
22.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.01 ₹773
$7.12 ₹687
12.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Varkala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.75 ₹2,004
$16.16 ₹1,560
28.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.94 ₹960
$6.84 ₹660
45.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.71 ₹455
$2.92 ₹282
61.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Varkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.7 ₹7,794
$50.6 ₹4,885
59.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,053 ₹198.2K
$1,567 ₹151.3K
30.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Varkala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.59 ₹2,664
$24.37 ₹2,353
13.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.74 ₹3,065
$24.84 ₹2,398
27.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.0 ₹4,827
$43.10 ₹4,161
16.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.82 ₹3,555
$30.83 ₹2,977
19.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Varkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$235 ₹22.7K
$126 ₹12.1K
87.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 ₹13.4K
$77.2 ₹7,457
79.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$582 ₹56.2K
$273 ₹26.4K
113.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$328 ₹31.7K
$182 ₹17.6K
80.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,375 ₹229.3K
$1,062 ₹102.6K
123.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$963 ₹93.0K
$612 ₹59.0K
57.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Varkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 ₹52.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
8.67
3.81%

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

Last update for Delhi: July 22, 2026

Last update for Varkala: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Delhi versus $126 in Varkala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Delhi versus $11.00 in Varkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $116 vs $106 – making Varkala 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 Varkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Delhi and in Varkala compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $541 in Delhi, $382 in Varkala – roughly 42% apart. Delhi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Delhi compared to Varkala?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $812 per month in Delhi and $573 in Varkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Delhi and Varkala?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Varkala, 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 $11.00 in Varkala. 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 Varkala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $541 in Delhi and $382 in Varkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,200 go in Delhi compared to Varkala?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $541 in Delhi and $382 in Varkala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Delhi and Varkala?
It depends on your priorities. Varkala has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $382 in Varkala to $541 in Delhi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Delhi or Varkala 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 Varkala?
If budget matters most, go with Varkala. 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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