Cost of Living Comparison Between Dharwad and Mumbai (Bombay) Cost of Living Comparison Between Dharwad and Mumbai (Bombay)

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $376 in Dharwad versus $795 in Mumbai (Bombay).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $585 in Dharwad versus $1,311 in Mumbai (Bombay).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $794 in Dharwad versus $1,827 in Mumbai (Bombay).

Living in Dharwad costs roughly 53% less than in Mumbai (Bombay), driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dharwad 73% lower, Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dharwad
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 ₹315
$5.30 ₹501
-37.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.19 ₹679
$21.42 ₹2,023
-66.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.31 ₹313
$4.29 ₹405
-22.84%
Cappuccino
$1.60 ₹152
$2.61 ₹246
-38.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₹36.14
$0.41 ₹38.29
-7.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 ₹12.46
$0.14 ₹13.06
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.54 ₹145
$2.59 ₹245
-40.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ₹339
$4.16 ₹393
-13.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dharwad
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.62 ₹58.6
$0.69 ₹65.7
-10.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₹41.88
$0.49 ₹46.05
-10.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.66 ₹62.8
$0.73 ₹68.9
-9.59%
Eggs
$0.86 ₹81.3
$0.95 ₹89.6
-9.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.57 ₹432
$5.69 ₹537
-19.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.79 ₹264
$3.48 ₹329
-19.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 ₹182
$2.34 ₹222
-17.95%
Banana (1kg)
$0.65 ₹61.8
$0.67 ₹63.4
-2.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 ₹91.5
$1.20 ₹114
-19.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.44 ₹41.85
$0.50 ₹47.21
-12.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 ₹31.07
$0.38 ₹35.57
-13.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ₹38.69
$0.40 ₹38.18
2.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 ₹41.79
$0.49 ₹46.17
-10.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.74
$0.29 ₹27.00
6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.79 ₹547
$4.98 ₹470
16.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.76 ₹733
$8.23 ₹777
-5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 ₹135
$2.10 ₹199
-31.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₹234
$3.15 ₹298
-21.27%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$4.57 ₹431
$5.95 ₹562
-23.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Dharwad
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₹23.43
$0.20 ₹18.87
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.34 ₹694
$5.88 ₹556
24.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₹73.2
$0.31 ₹29.07
148.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹25.20
$0.33 ₹31.28
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 ₹154
$1.55 ₹146
5.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ₹106
$1.10 ₹104
1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.4K ₹1.1M
$16.2K ₹1.5M
-29.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K ₹1.9M
$22.6K ₹2.1M
-10.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dharwad
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.46 ₹3,350
$59.1 ₹5,584
-40.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.06 ₹289
$4.38 ₹414
-30.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.70 ₹539
$9.34 ₹883
-38.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dharwad
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.00 ₹1,323
$27.20 ₹2,570
-48.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.91 ₹559
$14.11 ₹1,333
-58.11%
Cinema Ticket
$2.91 ₹275
$4.62 ₹437
-37.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dharwad
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$48.78 ₹4,609
$118 ₹11.1K
-58.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,419 ₹134.1K
$4,947 ₹467.4K
-71.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dharwad
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.34 ₹2,111
$33.63 ₹3,177
-33.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.56 ₹2,226
$38.59 ₹3,646
-38.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.68 ₹3,843
$59.8 ₹5,648
-31.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.68 ₹2,426
$48.89 ₹4,619
-47.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dharwad
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$122 ₹11.6K
$652 ₹61.6K
-81.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$74.7 ₹7,053
$356 ₹33.6K
-79.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 ₹25.2K
$1,907 ₹180.2K
-86.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 ₹14.5K
$863 ₹81.5K
-82.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,017 ₹96.1K
$6,242 ₹589.7K
-83.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$470 ₹44.4K
$2,324 ₹219.5K
-79.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dharwad
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$804 ₹75.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.86
8.36
5.98%

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

Last update for Dharwad: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Dharwad and $652 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $7.00 in Dharwad vs $21.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $117 per month, with Dharwad cheaper across the board.

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
Dharwad vs Mumbai (Bombay): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dharwad and in Mumbai (Bombay)?
Dharwad and Mumbai (Bombay) differ by about 111% in total monthly costs ($376 vs $795 including rent). Dharwad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Dharwad compared to Mumbai (Bombay)?
You'd need roughly $564 in Dharwad and $1,192 in Mumbai (Bombay) to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Dharwad and in Mumbai (Bombay)?
Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Dharwad versus $652 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dharwad or Mumbai (Bombay)?
All in, you'll spend $376 per month in Dharwad versus $795 in Mumbai (Bombay) – a 111% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Dharwad and in Mumbai (Bombay)?
A monthly transit pass in Dharwad runs roughly 25% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $376 in Dharwad versus $795 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dharwad but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Dharwad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dharwad and Mumbai (Bombay)?
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.
Is Dharwad or Mumbai (Bombay) safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dharwad and Mumbai (Bombay) are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Dharwad or Mumbai (Bombay)?
Expats usually find Dharwad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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