Cost of Living Comparison Between Hyderabad and Kollam Cost of Living Comparison Between Hyderabad and Kollam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $488 per month in Hyderabad vs $281 in Kollam, rent included.

A couple spends around $806 per month in Hyderabad vs $456 in Kollam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,124 per month in Hyderabad vs $630 in Kollam, rent included.

Hyderabad costs about 74% more than Kollam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hyderabad and Kollam are more affordable than the global median – Hyderabad 64% lower, Kollam 79% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hyderabad
Kollam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.65 ₹255
$1.02 ₹98.0
159.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.75 ₹1,511
$6.14 ₹589
156.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.11 ₹491
$3.59 ₹345
42.34%
Cappuccino
$2.24 ₹215
$1.40 ₹134
60.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₹46.69
$0.41 ₹39.29
19.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.75
$0.15 ₹14.58
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.11 ₹202
$1.12 ₹107
88.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 ₹509
$2.68 ₹257
98.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
Kollam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 ₹77.5
$0.57 ₹54.8
42.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 ₹56.2
$0.40 ₹38.54
47.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.68 ₹65.2
$0.47 ₹45.22
44.68%
Eggs
$1.02 ₹97.7
$0.75 ₹71.5
36.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.77 ₹650
$5.27 ₹506
28.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ₹326
$2.04 ₹196
66.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.43 ₹233
$1.64 ₹158
48.17%
Banana (1kg)
$0.67 ₹64.1
$0.58 ₹56.0
15.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 ₹104
$0.68 ₹64.8
60.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.43 ₹41.08
$0.39 ₹37.50
10.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 ₹40.17
$0.43 ₹41.44
-2.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₹34.33
$0.35 ₹33.89
2.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 ₹45.78
$0.36 ₹34.46
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.18
$0.30 ₹29.07
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₹491
$5.09 ₹488
0.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.64 ₹829
$2.64 ₹254
227.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ₹169
$1.67 ₹160
5.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₹248
$2.75 ₹264
-5.82%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.36 ₹610
$4.16 ₹399
52.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Hyderabad
Kollam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 ₹47.48
$0.15 ₹14.47
226.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.37 ₹1,474
$7.16 ₹687
114.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 ₹83.1
$1.02 ₹98.1
-14.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 ₹48.25
$0.26 ₹24.91
92.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₹112
$1.60 ₹154
-26.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₹111
$1.06 ₹102
8.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.3K ₹1.5M
$10.4K ₹999.3K
46.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K ₹2.2M
$16.4K ₹1.6M
39.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
Kollam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.81 ₹3,723
$32.97 ₹3,163
17.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24 ₹406
$2.93 ₹281
44.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.92 ₹760
$5.23 ₹502
51.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
Kollam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.94 ₹2,297
$13.31 ₹1,277
79.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.32 ₹702
$12.75 ₹1,223
-42.59%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08 ₹295
$1.53 ₹147
101.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hyderabad
Kollam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 ₹9,983
$20.74 ₹1,990
401.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,847 ₹273.1K
$1,328 ₹127.4K
114.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
Kollam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.85 ₹2,097
$16.33 ₹1,567
33.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.89 ₹2,004
$21.68 ₹2,080
-3.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$41.99 ₹4,028
$24.98 ₹2,396
68.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.25 ₹3,382
$24.08 ₹2,310
46.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
Kollam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$231 ₹22.2K
$82.3 ₹7,892
180.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 ₹13.0K
$46.28 ₹4,441
192.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$612 ₹58.8K
$182 ₹17.5K
236.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 ₹31.6K
$114 ₹10.9K
188.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,377 ₹132.1K
$828 ₹79.4K
66.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$758 ₹72.7K
$443 ₹42.5K
71.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hyderabad
Kollam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,186 ₹113.8K
$530 ₹50.9K
123.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.46
9.13
-7.34%

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

Last update for Hyderabad: September 12, 2026

Last update for Kollam: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $231 in Hyderabad versus $82.3 in Kollam. 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 124% higher in Hyderabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Hyderabad versus $6.00 in Kollam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $120 vs $83.0 – making Kollam 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
Hyderabad vs Kollam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hyderabad or Kollam?
Hyderabad costs about 74% more than Kollam, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Kollam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $732 per month in Hyderabad and $422 in Kollam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hyderabad or Kollam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kollam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Hyderabad compared to Kollam?
Public transport costs about 115% less in Kollam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hyderabad and in Kollam?
Kindergarten costs $104 per month in Hyderabad and $20.74 in Kollam. 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 Kollam?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $488 in Hyderabad and $281 in Kollam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hyderabad or Kollam?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kollam costs $281 versus $488 in Hyderabad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hyderabad compared to Kollam?
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.
Should I move to Hyderabad or to Kollam?
If budget matters most, go with Kollam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, 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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