🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $434 in Imphal versus $763 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $668 in Imphal versus $1,259 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $903 in Imphal versus $1,754 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🌍Living in Imphal costs roughly 43% less than in Mumbai (Bombay), driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Imphal68% lower, Mumbai (Bombay)43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Imphal
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26₹218
$5.17₹498
-56.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.37₹806
$22.50₹2,166
-62.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.53₹629
$4.70₹452
38.94%
Cappuccino
$0.77₹74.5
$2.60₹251
-70.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48₹46.35
$0.50₹48.58
-4.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16₹15.82
$0.19₹18.22
-15.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.11₹203
$2.33₹224
-9.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.03₹484
$4.18₹403
20.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Imphal
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74₹71.5
$0.73₹70.1
1.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96₹92.4
$0.48₹46.49
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.51₹48.95
$0.82₹79.3
-37.80%
Eggs
$1.38₹133
$1.05₹101
31.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.11₹492
$6.87₹661
-25.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17₹305
$3.89₹374
-18.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96₹189
$2.29₹220
-14.41%
Banana(1kg)
$0.72₹69.2
$0.83₹79.7
-13.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.98₹94.6
$1.30₹125
-24.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54₹51.9
$0.65₹63.0
-16.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.43₹41.01
$0.57₹54.8
-24.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54₹52.0
$0.58₹56.3
-6.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48₹46.23
$0.64₹61.9
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40₹38.35
$0.35₹33.81
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10₹395
$4.22₹406
-2.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.40₹1,098
$8.18₹787
39.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06₹199
$2.08₹200
-0.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₹223
$3.27₹315
-29.36%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.60₹539
$6.98₹672
-19.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Imphal
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₹26.74
$0.22₹21.17
27.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.58₹826
$4.69₹451
82.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₹109
$0.37₹35.23
208.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38₹36.74
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.03₹99.2
$1.37₹132
-24.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19₹114
$1.18₹114
0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8K₹1.3M
$17.3K₹1.7M
-20.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K₹2.1M
$24.8K₹2.4M
-10.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Imphal
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.2₹7,235
$50.2₹4,833
49.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.56₹343
$5.08₹489
-29.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.16₹401
$8.62₹830
-51.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Imphal
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.35₹1,381
$23.20₹2,234
-38.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95₹380
$11.85₹1,141
-66.67%
Cinema Ticket
$2.83₹272
$4.70₹452
-39.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Imphal
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$50.7₹4,883
$118₹11.4K
-57.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,559₹150.1K
$3,379₹325.3K
-53.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Imphal
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.78₹1,711
$29.21₹2,812
-39.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.84₹2,777
$31.19₹3,003
-7.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$32.51₹3,130
$56.6₹5,444
-42.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.16₹3,384
$40.55₹3,904
-13.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Imphal
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$125₹12.0K
$697₹67.1K
-82.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.4₹7,453
$357₹34.4K
-78.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$292₹28.1K
$1,783₹171.7K
-83.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178₹17.1K
$844₹81.3K
-78.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$420₹40.4K
$6,047₹582.1K
-93.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$255₹24.5K
$2,517₹242.4K
-89.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Imphal
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$184₹17.7K
$787₹75.8K
-76.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.35
9.22
55.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Imphal: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $125 in Imphal and $697 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mumbai (Bombay) pays 328% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $8.00 in Imphal vs $23.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $127 per month, with Imphal 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
Imphal vs Mumbai (Bombay): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Imphal and in Mumbai (Bombay)?
Imphal and Mumbai (Bombay) differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($434 vs $763 including rent). Imphal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 328% lower in Mumbai (Bombay). That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Imphal and in Mumbai (Bombay)?
Rent for a central apartment: $125 in Imphal versus $697 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Imphal – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $23.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $434 in Imphal versus $763 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in Imphal but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Imphal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Imphal 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.
Where should expats move: Imphal or Mumbai (Bombay)?
Expats usually find Imphal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.