Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ernakulam and Hyderabad

For one person, living is cheaper in Ernakulam: $393 a month against $491 in Hyderabad, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ernakulam, India
Hyderabad, India
Ernakulam
🇮🇳 India
$393
/mo nomad
Hyderabad
🇮🇳 India
$491
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ernakulam and in Hyderabad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ernakulam and in Hyderabad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $393 per month in Ernakulam vs $491 in Hyderabad, rent included.

  • Ernakulam $393
  • Hyderabad $491

A couple spends around $651 per month in Ernakulam vs $809 in Hyderabad, rent included.

  • Ernakulam $651
  • Hyderabad $809

A family of three spends $909 per month in Ernakulam vs $1,127 in Hyderabad, rent included.

  • Ernakulam $909
  • Hyderabad $1,127

Ernakulam is about 20% cheaper than Hyderabad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ernakulam and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Ernakulam 71% lower, Hyderabad 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ernakulam
Hyderabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.70 ₹162
$2.58 ₹246
-34.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.18 ₹779
$15.95 ₹1,519
-48.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.65 ₹347
$5.10 ₹486
-28.43%
Cappuccino
$1.29 ₹123
$2.27 ₹217
-43.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₹37.58
$0.45 ₹42.56
-13.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12 ₹11.55
$0.15 ₹14.13
-20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.62 ₹154
$2.12 ₹202
-23.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ₹202
$4.29 ₹409
-50.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ernakulam
Hyderabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 ₹60.2
$0.83 ₹79.2
-24.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 ₹47.41
$0.58 ₹55.7
-13.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.63 ₹59.6
$0.70 ₹66.3
-10.00%
Eggs
$0.90 ₹86.1
$0.99 ₹94.5
-9.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.52 ₹526
$7.10 ₹676
-22.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.82 ₹268
$3.38 ₹322
-16.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 ₹214
$2.34 ₹223
-3.85%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 ₹66.3
$0.68 ₹65.2
2.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 ₹101
$1.14 ₹109
-7.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.45 ₹43.14
$0.44 ₹42.17
2.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 ₹36.21
$0.43 ₹40.47
-11.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 ₹47.43
$0.39 ₹37.58
28.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 ₹53.6
$0.51 ₹48.79
9.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₹27.40
$0.32 ₹30.91
-9.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 ₹431
$5.18 ₹493
-12.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.37 ₹512
$8.37 ₹797
-35.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 ₹161
$1.82 ₹173
-7.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 ₹239
$2.72 ₹259
-8.09%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.07 ₹483
$6.16 ₹586
-17.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Ernakulam
Hyderabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.10 ₹9.20
$0.54 ₹51.5
-81.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.24 ₹595
$14.95 ₹1,423
-58.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 ₹126
$0.92 ₹87.2
44.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₹31.72
$0.55 ₹52.3
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.34 ₹128
$1.19 ₹113
12.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₹104
$1.12 ₹106
-2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.1K ₹1.1M
$11.4K ₹1.1M
-2.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K ₹2.6M
$22.7K ₹2.2M
19.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ernakulam
Hyderabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.90 ₹3,133
$35.06 ₹3,339
-6.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.28 ₹312
$4.30 ₹409
-23.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.63 ₹631
$7.89 ₹751
-15.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ernakulam
Hyderabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.20 ₹1,162
$24.12 ₹2,297
-49.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.04 ₹861
$7.43 ₹708
21.67%
Cinema Ticket
$2.16 ₹206
$3.07 ₹292
-29.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ernakulam
Hyderabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$56.8 ₹5,407
$145 ₹13.8K
-60.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,068 ₹196.9K
$2,836 ₹270.0K
-27.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ernakulam
Hyderabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.73 ₹2,069
$21.57 ₹2,054
0.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.36 ₹1,653
$21.03 ₹2,003
-17.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$36.23 ₹3,450
$42.00 ₹3,999
-13.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.47 ₹2,615
$34.78 ₹3,312
-21.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ernakulam
Hyderabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$226 ₹21.5K
$231 ₹22.0K
-2.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$121 ₹11.5K
$133 ₹12.7K
-9.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$415 ₹39.5K
$624 ₹59.4K
-33.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 ₹31.4K
$339 ₹32.3K
-2.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,084 ₹103.2K
$1,354 ₹128.9K
-19.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,184 ₹112.7K
$776 ₹73.9K
52.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ernakulam
Hyderabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$349 ₹33.3K
$1,260 ₹120.0K
-72.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.5
8.55
11.11%

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

Last update for Ernakulam: October 26, 2026

Last update for Hyderabad: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ernakulam
$121
Hyderabad
$133 10.1% $12
Groceries & Markets
Ernakulam
$102
Hyderabad
$121 18.6% $19
Eating Out
Ernakulam
$54
Hyderabad
$85 55.7% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Ernakulam
$46
Hyderabad
$54 16.2% $7.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ernakulam
$43
Hyderabad
$47 10.4% $4.4
Sport & Entertainment
Ernakulam
$17
Hyderabad
$30 83.2% $14
Getting Around
Ernakulam
$9.6
Hyderabad
$21 116% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Ernakulam versus $231 in Hyderabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Hyderabad are about 3.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $8 in Ernakulam versus $16 in Hyderabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $121 – making Ernakulam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Ernakulam
🇮🇳 Hyderabad
🕒 Local time
02:19 2:19 AM
02:19 2:19 AM
Same time as Ernakulam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
612,343
6,809,970
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.22 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ernakulam Hyderabad 850 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ernakulam
  • Hyderabad

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
Ernakulam vs Hyderabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ernakulam cheaper than Hyderabad?
Yes – Hyderabad is pricier by about 25%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $589 per month in Ernakulam and $736 in Hyderabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Ernakulam and Hyderabad?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $226 in Ernakulam and $231 in Hyderabad. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Ernakulam and in Hyderabad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $393 in Ernakulam and $491 in Hyderabad. That makes Ernakulam about 20% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 58% less in Ernakulam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 enough for either Ernakulam or Hyderabad?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $393 in Ernakulam and $491 in Hyderabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ernakulam costs $393 versus $491 in Hyderabad. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ernakulam. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hyderabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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