Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hyderabad and Rishikesh

For one person, living is cheaper in Rishikesh: $397 a month against $489 in Hyderabad, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Hyderabad
🇮🇳 India
$489
/mo nomad
Rishikesh
🇮🇳 India
$397
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hyderabad and in Rishikesh

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 Rishikesh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $489 per month in Hyderabad vs $397 in Rishikesh, rent included.

  • Hyderabad $489
  • Rishikesh $397

A couple spends around $801 per month in Hyderabad vs $624 in Rishikesh, rent included.

  • Hyderabad $801
  • Rishikesh $624

A family of three spends $1,114 per month in Hyderabad vs $850 in Rishikesh, rent included.

  • Hyderabad $1,114
  • Rishikesh $850

Hyderabad costs about 23% more than Rishikesh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hyderabad
Rishikesh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.67 ₹253
$3.11 ₹295
-14.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.01 ₹1,520
$9.13 ₹867
75.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.32 ₹506
$3.65 ₹347
45.75%
Cappuccino
$2.36 ₹224
$1.44 ₹137
63.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₹42.41
$0.38 ₹35.70
18.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.27
$0.18 ₹17.40
-5.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.09 ₹198
$2.12 ₹201
-1.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 ₹419
$3.11 ₹295
41.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
Rishikesh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 ₹79.1
$0.58 ₹55.5
43.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₹52.9
$0.25 ₹23.57
124.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.68 ₹64.9
$0.76 ₹72.4
-10.53%
Eggs
$1.04 ₹98.7
$0.86 ₹81.2
20.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.95 ₹660
$4.60 ₹437
51.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.27 ₹310
$3.37 ₹320
-2.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₹220
$1.91 ₹182
21.47%
Banana (1kg)
$0.72 ₹68.8
$0.79 ₹75.4
-8.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 ₹109
$1.04 ₹98.3
9.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 ₹45.43
$0.49 ₹46.09
-2.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.06
$0.30 ₹28.75
30.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₹34.30
$0.32 ₹30.83
12.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 ₹46.27
$0.45 ₹42.59
8.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₹28.10
$0.31 ₹29.79
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10 ₹485
$2.08 ₹197
145.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.29 ₹787
$8.30 ₹788
-0.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₹175
$1.66 ₹158
10.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ₹252
$2.81 ₹267
-5.69%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.20 ₹589
$6.10 ₹579
1.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Hyderabad
Rishikesh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 ₹49.00
$0.25 ₹23.53
108.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.11 ₹1,434
$7.47 ₹709
102.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 ₹88.8
$1.07 ₹102
-12.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 ₹51.5
$0.27 ₹25.73
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 ₹107
$1.53 ₹145
-26.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₹112
$1.06 ₹100
11.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.8K ₹1.1M
$10.3K ₹981.2K
14.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K ₹2.2M
$18.7K ₹1.8M
23.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
Rishikesh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.22 ₹3,344
$42.79 ₹4,063
-17.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.48 ₹426
$3.43 ₹325
30.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.93 ₹753
$6.69 ₹635
18.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
Rishikesh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.19 ₹2,297
$11.53 ₹1,095
109.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.45 ₹707
$6.59 ₹626
13.05%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08 ₹292
$5.11 ₹486
-39.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hyderabad
Rishikesh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 ₹10.4K
$101 ₹9,573
8.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,865 ₹272.0K
$2,249 ₹213.5K
27.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
Rishikesh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.70 ₹2,061
$21.02 ₹1,997
3.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.09 ₹2,003
$20.63 ₹1,959
2.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$42.72 ₹4,057
$52.8 ₹5,015
-19.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.72 ₹3,392
$44.07 ₹4,185
-18.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
Rishikesh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$226 ₹21.4K
$106 ₹10.1K
112.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$128 ₹12.2K
$72.5 ₹6,886
77.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$618 ₹58.6K
$266 ₹25.2K
132.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$322 ₹30.6K
$173 ₹16.5K
85.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,341 ₹127.3K
$967 ₹91.8K
38.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$752 ₹71.4K
$513 ₹48.7K
46.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hyderabad
Rishikesh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,280 ₹121.5K
$209 ₹19.9K
511.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.55
6
42.50%

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

Last update for Hyderabad: October 18, 2026

Last update for Rishikesh: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
$128
Rishikesh
$73 43.5% $56
Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
$119
Rishikesh
$104 12.9% $15
Eating Out
Hyderabad
$87
Rishikesh
$72 17.4% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
$55
Rishikesh
$62 14.3% $7.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
$48
Rishikesh
$53 11.1% $5.3
Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
$30
Rishikesh
$22 28.3% $8.6
Getting Around
Hyderabad
$21
Rishikesh
$11 47.7% $9.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Hyderabad versus $106 in Rishikesh. 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 511% 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 $9.00 in Rishikesh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $119 vs $104 – making Rishikesh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Hyderabad
🇮🇳 Rishikesh
🕒 Local time
17:06 5:06 PM
17:06 5:06 PM
Same time as Hyderabad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,809,970
66,390
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hyderabad Rishikesh 1,420 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hyderabad
  • Rishikesh

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 Rishikesh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hyderabad or Rishikesh?
Hyderabad costs about 23% more than Rishikesh, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Rishikesh?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $733 per month in Hyderabad and $595 in Rishikesh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hyderabad or Rishikesh?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rishikesh, 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 Rishikesh?
Public transport costs about 102% less in Rishikesh. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hyderabad and in Rishikesh?
Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Hyderabad and $101 in Rishikesh. 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 Rishikesh?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $489 in Hyderabad and $397 in Rishikesh, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hyderabad or Rishikesh?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rishikesh costs $397 versus $489 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 Rishikesh?
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 Rishikesh?
If budget matters most, go with Rishikesh. 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.

Hyderabad vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?