Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hyderabad and Karnataka

For one person, living is cheaper in Karnataka: $327 a month against $505 in Hyderabad, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Hyderabad, India
Karnataka, India
Hyderabad
🇮🇳 India
$505
/mo nomad
Karnataka
🇮🇳 India
$327
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hyderabad and in Karnataka

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

A single person spends $505 per month in Hyderabad vs $327 in Karnataka, rent included.

  • Hyderabad $505
  • Karnataka $327

A couple spends around $819 per month in Hyderabad vs $539 in Karnataka, rent included.

  • Hyderabad $819
  • Karnataka $539

A family of three spends $1,134 per month in Hyderabad vs $752 in Karnataka, rent included.

  • Hyderabad $1,134
  • Karnataka $752

Hyderabad costs about 54% more than Karnataka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hyderabad and Karnataka are more affordable than the global median – Hyderabad 63% lower, Karnataka 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hyderabad
Karnataka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.59 ₹245
$1.03 ₹97.4
151.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.61 ₹1,474
$10.88 ₹1,028
43.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.13 ₹485
$3.61 ₹341
42.11%
Cappuccino
$2.45 ₹231
$0.93 ₹87.7
163.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₹42.10
$0.42 ₹39.69
7.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 ₹17.05
$0.14 ₹13.35
28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₹201
$1.88 ₹178
13.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₹408
$2.13 ₹201
102.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
Karnataka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 ₹74.5
$0.52 ₹49.32
51.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ₹56.3
$0.45 ₹42.20
33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.70 ₹66.0
$0.85 ₹80.1
-17.65%
Eggs
$1.05 ₹98.9
$0.88 ₹83.3
19.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.19 ₹679
$5.74 ₹542
25.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.26 ₹308
$3.44 ₹325
-5.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.51 ₹237
$1.77 ₹167
41.81%
Banana (1kg)
$0.66 ₹62.6
$0.46 ₹43.47
43.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 ₹100
$0.83 ₹78.4
27.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.43 ₹40.52
$0.31 ₹28.84
38.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 ₹39.74
$0.36 ₹33.57
16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₹35.06
$0.44 ₹41.50
-15.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 ₹39.96
$0.25 ₹23.59
68.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.32
$0.27 ₹25.67
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.11 ₹483
$1.62 ₹153
215.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.08 ₹857
$4.39 ₹414
106.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ₹168
$1.97 ₹186
-10.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₹273
$2.42 ₹228
19.42%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.39 ₹604
$2.26 ₹214
182.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Hyderabad
Karnataka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 ₹48.97
$0.23 ₹21.75
126.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.96 ₹1,413
$7.07 ₹667
111.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 ₹85.4
$0.54 ₹51.2
66.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 ₹52.1
$0.28 ₹26.19
96.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₹113
$2.13 ₹202
-44.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₹107
$0.97 ₹91.5
16.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.5K ₹1.1M
$6,213 ₹587.0K
85.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K ₹2.2M
$12.5K ₹1.2M
89.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
Karnataka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.93 ₹3,300
$17.67 ₹1,669
97.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.04 ₹476
$3.75 ₹354
34.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.97 ₹753
$3.08 ₹291
158.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
Karnataka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.25 ₹2,291
$15.06 ₹1,423
61.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.60 ₹718
$6.43 ₹608
18.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15 ₹298
$2.58 ₹243
22.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hyderabad
Karnataka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$145 ₹13.7K
$44.31 ₹4,186
227.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,463 ₹516.1K
$1,152 ₹108.8K
374.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
Karnataka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.52 ₹2,033
$18.20 ₹1,719
18.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.85 ₹1,969
$19.28 ₹1,822
8.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.62 ₹4,121
$52.9 ₹4,998
-17.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.88 ₹3,390
$20.80 ₹1,965
72.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
Karnataka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 ₹22.6K
$121 ₹11.5K
96.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$142 ₹13.4K
$79.1 ₹7,472
79.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$637 ₹60.2K
$272 ₹25.7K
134.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$337 ₹31.8K
$194 ₹18.3K
73.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,341 ₹126.7K
$917 ₹86.6K
46.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$807 ₹76.2K
$529 ₹50.0K
52.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hyderabad
Karnataka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,193 ₹112.7K
$526 ₹49.7K
126.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.49
7.9
7.47%

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

Last update for Hyderabad: November 3, 2026

Last update for Karnataka: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
$142
Karnataka
$79 44.2% $63
Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
$122
Karnataka
$97 20.4% $25
Eating Out
Hyderabad
$87
Karnataka
$46 47.2% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
$55
Karnataka
$50 8.8% $4.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
$48
Karnataka
$25 48.9% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
$31
Karnataka
$20 33.9% $10
Getting Around
Hyderabad
$21
Karnataka
$9.9 52.1% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Hyderabad versus $121 in Karnataka. 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 2.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Hyderabad versus $11 in Karnataka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $122 vs $97 – making Karnataka the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Hyderabad
🇮🇳 Karnataka
🕒 Local time
04:29 4:29 AM
04:29 4:29 AM
Same time as Hyderabad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,809,970
77,139
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 94.47 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hyderabad Karnataka 540 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hyderabad
  • Karnataka

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
Hyderabad vs Karnataka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hyderabad or Karnataka?
Hyderabad costs about 54% more than Karnataka, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hyderabad and in Karnataka?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $758 per month in Hyderabad and $491 in Karnataka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hyderabad or Karnataka?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karnataka, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $121 there versus $239 in Hyderabad.
How expensive is transport in Hyderabad compared to Karnataka?
Public transport costs about 53% less in Karnataka. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hyderabad and in Karnataka?
Kindergarten costs $145 per month in Hyderabad and $44 in Karnataka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Hyderabad or in Karnataka?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $505 in Hyderabad and $327 in Karnataka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hyderabad or Karnataka?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karnataka costs $327 versus $505 in Hyderabad. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Hyderabad or to Karnataka?
If budget matters most, go with Karnataka. 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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