For one person, living is cheaper in India: $391 a month against $2,542 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $25,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in India and in Australia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $391 per month in India vs $2,542 in Australia, rent included.
India $391
Australia $2,542
A couple spends around $620 per month in India vs $3,717 in Australia, rent included.
India $620
Australia $3,717
A family of three spends $849 per month in India vs $4,893 in Australia, rent included.
India $849
Australia $4,893
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,646–$3,152) than in India ($228–$812), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in India is roughly 85% lower than in Australia on average.
📊
India sits 71% below the global median, while Australia is 88% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14₹203
$17.16A$24.69
-87.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.52₹999
$83.9A$121
-87.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.58₹340
$11.20A$16.12
-68.04%
Cappuccino
$1.67₹158
$3.92A$5.64
-57.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₹35.48
$2.83A$4.07
-86.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.18
$2.30A$3.31
-93.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84₹175
$7.68A$11.06
-76.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07₹292
$8.25A$11.87
-62.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹58.8
$1.76A$2.53
-64.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49₹46.73
$2.77A$3.99
-82.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63₹60.1
$2.19A$3.16
-71.23%
Eggs
$0.96₹90.7
$4.99A$7.18
-80.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.71₹447
$9.94A$14.31
-52.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92₹277
$9.03A$12.99
-67.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$15.25A$21.94
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.98₹188
$3.67A$5.28
-46.05%
Banana(1kg)
$0.68₹64.4
$3.05A$4.39
-77.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02₹97.2
$3.12A$4.50
-67.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.46₹43.78
$4.56A$6.56
-89.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹32.20
$2.81A$4.04
-87.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41₹39.00
$2.39A$3.44
-82.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43₹40.66
$2.35A$3.39
-81.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.73
$1.64A$2.36
-81.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.89₹464
$38.42A$55.3
-87.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₹688
$13.77A$19.82
-47.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71₹162
$4.69A$6.75
-63.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74₹260
$5.08A$7.31
-46.06%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.25₹499
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27₹25.86
$2.72A$3.91
-90.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.39₹797
$95.8A$138
-91.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03₹97.8
$3.54A$5.10
-70.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₹23.49
$1.55A$2.23
-83.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.60₹152
$40.00A$57.6
-96.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₹107
$1.30A$1.87
-13.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.6K₹1.2M
$28.2KA$40.5K
-55.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₹1.9M
$28.5KA$40.9K
-29.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.55₹3,566
$198A$285
-81.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.47₹330
$28.75A$41.37
-87.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.15₹679
$58.6A$84.4
-87.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.58₹1,385
$56.7A$81.6
-74.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.21₹684
$19.08A$27.46
-62.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.18₹302
$15.02A$21.62
-78.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.8₹5,391
$2,154A$3,099
-97.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,651₹156.7K
$17.9KA$25.8K
-90.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.55₹2,141
$78.0A$112
-71.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.54₹2,330
$54.8A$78.8
-55.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.69₹3,769
$112A$161
-64.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.84₹2,833
$124A$179
-76.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$141₹13.4K
$1,540A$2,215
-90.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$89.7₹8,515
$1,222A$1,758
-92.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$325₹30.9K
$2,478A$3,566
-86.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$207₹19.7K
$1,930A$2,778
-89.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,214₹115.3K
$8,153A$11.7K
-85.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$638₹60.6K
$6,053A$8,711
-89.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$434₹41.2K
$3,944A$5,676
-89.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.92
5.93
50.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: October 10, 2026
Last update for Australia: October 13, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 26.2%
Australia
$370 14.6% ↑ 262%$268
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$90 23%
Australia
$1.2K 48.1% ↑ 1262%$1.1K
🍽Eating Out
India
$65 16.7%
Australia
$293 11.5% ↑ 349%$228
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$52 13.4%
Australia
$166 6.5% ↑ 217%$114
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$48 12.3%
Australia
$286 11.2% ↑ 493%$237
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$21 5.4%
Australia
$87 3.4% ↑ 314%$66
🚌Getting Around
India
$12 3%
Australia
$118 4.6% ↑ 904%$106
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$221 26%
Australia
$841 17.2% ↑ 282%$621
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$207 24.4%
Australia
$1.9K 39.5% ↑ 831%$1.7K
🍽Eating Out
India
$179 21.1%
Australia
$1K 20.5% ↑ 460%$825
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$117 13.7%
Australia
$369 7.5% ↑ 217%$253
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$52 6.1%
Australia
$314 6.4% ↑ 509%$263
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$49 5.8%
Australia
$193 3.9% ↑ 292%$144
🚌Getting Around
India
$24 2.8%
Australia
$241 4.9% ↑ 904%$217
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $119 in India vs $1,366 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $267 in Delhi and $1,716 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $411 in India vs $3,849 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1048% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 720% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 971% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 836% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
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
India vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than India?
India is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 551% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia: a central one-bedroom averages $1,366 versus $119 in India.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in India, adding to the overall 551% price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in India?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in India, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to India?
India is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.