For one person, living is cheaper in India: $400 a month against $2,026 in Puerto Rico, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 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 Puerto Rico actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $400 in India versus $2,026 in Puerto Rico.
India $400
Puerto Rico $2,026
Estimated couple costs with rent: $638 in India versus $3,028 in Puerto Rico.
India $638
Puerto Rico $3,028
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $877 in India versus $4,031 in Puerto Rico.
India $877
Puerto Rico $4,031
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Puerto Rico: monthly costs span $1,067 to $2,520, compared to $244–$811 in India. City choice carries more weight in Puerto Rico.
🌍
Living in India costs about 80% less than in Puerto Rico on average.
📊
India (70% below) and Puerto Rico (50% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Puerto Rico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.16₹205
$15.22$15.22
-85.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.70₹1,012
$78.2$78.2
-86.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.64₹345
$10.05$10.05
-63.78%
Cappuccino
$1.75₹166
$3.35$3.35
-47.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₹39.74
$1.71$1.71
-75.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.20
$1.35$1.35
-88.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹177
$2.91$2.91
-35.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13₹296
$4.46$4.46
-29.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Puerto Rico
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.65₹61.3
$2.16$2.16
-69.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46₹43.29
$3.25$3.25
-85.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.64₹60.7
$2.18$2.18
-70.64%
Eggs
$0.95₹89.8
$5.78$5.78
-83.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.87₹461
$11.21$11.21
-56.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.82₹267
$8.35$8.35
-66.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$12.10$12.10
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.92₹182
$4.45$4.45
-56.85%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63₹60.0
$2.77$2.77
-77.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99₹93.5
$4.47$4.47
-77.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48₹45.24
$4.50$4.50
-89.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33₹31.47
$3.36$3.36
-90.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹40.09
$3.24$3.24
-87.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46₹43.66
$2.94$2.94
-84.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.43
$1.80$1.80
-82.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.17₹489
$11.70$11.70
-55.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.56₹715
$15.45$15.45
-51.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65₹156
$2.44$2.44
-32.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66₹252
$3.70$3.70
-28.11%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.24₹496
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Puerto Rico
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹22.69
$0.91$0.91
-73.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.23₹779
$29.84$29.84
-72.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96₹90.8
$2.57$2.57
-62.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₹23.65
$1.47$1.47
-82.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹146
$42.61$42.61
-96.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₹107
$1.07$1.07
5.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.1K₹1.0M
$40.5K$40.5K
-72.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₹1.9M
$29.0K$29.0K
-29.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Puerto Rico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.08₹3,604
$295$295
-87.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.53₹334
$68.1$68.1
-94.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.95₹657
$72.7$72.7
-90.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Puerto Rico
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.43₹1,461
$28.65$28.65
-46.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.09₹671
$13.57$13.57
-47.75%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₹296
$10.03$10.03
-68.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Puerto Rico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.1₹5,494
$704$704
-91.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,158₹298.9K
$11.2K$11.2K
-71.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Puerto Rico
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.69₹2,147
$56.1$56.1
-59.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.44₹2,313
$48.29$48.29
-49.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.02₹3,788
$94.3$94.3
-57.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.67₹2,808
$99.3$99.3
-70.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Puerto Rico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$145₹13.8K
$1,241$1,241
-88.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.8₹9,164
$758$758
-87.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$339₹32.0K
$2,338$2,338
-85.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231₹21.9K
$1,305$1,305
-82.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,142₹108.1K
$6,279$6,279
-81.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹59.9K
$3,688$3,688
-82.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Puerto Rico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$407₹38.5K
$2,844$2,844
-85.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.94
6.51
37.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: November 1, 2026
Last update for Puerto Rico: October 31, 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 25.5%
Puerto Rico
$377 18.6% ↑ 270%$275
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$97 24.2%
Puerto Rico
$758 37.5% ↑ 683%$662
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.8%
Puerto Rico
$228 11.2% ↑ 240%$161
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.1%
Puerto Rico
$134 6.6% ↑ 155%$82
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$49 12.1%
Puerto Rico
$436 21.5% ↑ 798%$387
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$22 5.4%
Puerto Rico
$49 2.4% ↑ 125%$27
🚌Getting Around
India
$11 2.9%
Puerto Rico
$43 2.1% ↑ 281%$32
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$219 25%
Puerto Rico
$869 21.6% ↑ 296%$649
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$231 26.4%
Puerto Rico
$1.3K 32.4% ↑ 465%$1.1K
🍽Eating Out
India
$183 20.9%
Puerto Rico
$855 21.2% ↑ 366%$672
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$117 13.3%
Puerto Rico
$298 7.4% ↑ 155%$181
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$52 5.9%
Puerto Rico
$504 12.5% ↑ 868%$452
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.8%
Puerto Rico
$111 2.8% ↑ 120%$61
🚌Getting Around
India
$23 2.7%
Puerto Rico
$89 2.2% ↑ 281%$65
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $121 in India, $898 in Puerto Rico. Capital cities: $278 in Delhi vs $1,994 in San Juan.
💰National salary averages: $405 in India, $2,600 in Puerto Rico. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 642% higher in Puerto Rico.
⭐Dining out costs 582% more in Puerto Rico.
⭐Public transport is 375% more expensive in Puerto Rico.
⭐Salaries are about 6.4 times higher in Puerto Rico, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Puerto Rico.
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 Puerto Rico: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Puerto Rico?
At $400 per month in India and $2,026 in Puerto Rico, India comes out about 80% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $898 in Puerto Rico and $121 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to India or to Puerto Rico?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.