Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Sierra Leone Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Sierra Leone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $389 in India versus $1,970 in Sierra Leone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in India versus $1,723 in Sierra Leone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $1,475 in Sierra Leone.

Living in India costs about 80% less than in Sierra Leone on average.

India (71% below) and Sierra Leone (47% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $267 to $883, compared to $1,970$1,970 in Sierra Leone. City choice carries more weight in India.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Sierra Leone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.62 ₹249
$2.96 SLL 67.3K
-11.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.81 ₹1,313
$32.79 SLL 744.5K
-57.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.03 ₹383
$9.89 SLL 224.7K
-59.25%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ₹173
$1.71 SLL 38.8K
5.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹41.73
$0.97 SLL 22.0K
-54.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.21
$0.79 SLL 18.0K
-75.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 ₹183
$1.52 SLL 34.5K
26.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 ₹324
$2.78 SLL 63.2K
22.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Sierra Leone
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.71 ₹67.6
$2.47 SLL 56.0K
-71.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.46
$0.69 SLL 15.8K
-24.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 ₹63.8
$1.35 SLL 30.6K
-50.37%
Eggs
$1.00 ₹95.0
$2.06 SLL 46.8K
-51.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.44 ₹517
$7.21 SLL 163.6K
-24.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 ₹307
$7.46 SLL 169.4K
-56.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$5.38 SLL 122.1K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 ₹206
$3.95 SLL 89.7K
-45.32%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 ₹66.6
$1.97 SLL 44.8K
-64.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹99.6
$0.73 SLL 16.5K
43.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 ₹51.0
$5.01 SLL 113.9K
-89.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.43 ₹40.49
$2.06 SLL 46.8K
-79.13%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.19
$1.66 SLL 37.6K
-70.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ₹52.0
$0.98 SLL 22.4K
-43.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₹33.40
$1.42 SLL 32.3K
-75.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 ₹377
$1.87 SLL 42.5K
112.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.49 ₹712
$7.57 SLL 172.0K
-1.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₹182
$1.44 SLL 32.7K
32.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₹278
$2.12 SLL 48.0K
37.74%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.89 ₹560
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Sierra Leone
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 ₹31.64
$0.47 SLL 10.7K
-29.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.82 ₹934
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 ₹86.5
$0.73 SLL 16.6K
24.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ₹26.23
$1.28 SLL 29.0K
-78.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 ₹167
$4.91 SLL 111.6K
-64.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₹116
$1.35 SLL 30.7K
-9.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8K ₹1.3M
$12.2K SLL 276.9M
12.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K ₹2.2M
$24.6K SLL 559.4M
-7.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Sierra Leone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.60 ₹3,862
$145 SLL 3.3M
-71.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.90 ₹370
$17.83 SLL 404.9K
-78.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.00 ₹761
$75.7 SLL 1.7M
-89.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Sierra Leone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.96 ₹1,518
$51.0 SLL 1.2M
-68.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.79 ₹741
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.58 ₹340
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Sierra Leone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.7 ₹6,628
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,809 ₹172.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Sierra Leone
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.66 ₹2,440
$9.90 SLL 224.8K
159.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.13 ₹2,580
$7.97 SLL 181.0K
240.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.37 ₹4,410
$20.39 SLL 462.9K
127.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.55 ₹3,095
$49.29 SLL 1.1M
-33.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Sierra Leone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$175 ₹16.6K
$808 SLL 18.3M
-78.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$114 ₹10.8K
$1,250 SLL 28.4M
-90.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$401 ₹38.1K
$2,093 SLL 47.5M
-80.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 ₹24.6K
$98.3 SLL 2.2M
163.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,220 ₹116.1K
$1,106 SLL 25.1M
10.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$629 ₹59.8K
$1,098 SLL 24.9M
-42.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Sierra Leone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$428 ₹40.7K
$1,319 SLL 29.9M
-67.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
0
-

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

Last update for India: June 9, 2026

Last update for Sierra Leone: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $126 in India, $832 in Sierra Leone. Capital cities: $236 in Delhi vs $832 in Freetown.

National salary averages: $398 in India, $1,327 in Sierra Leone. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 560% higher in Sierra Leone.

Dining out costs 191% more in Sierra Leone.

Salaries are 233% higher in Sierra Leone, giving India stronger purchasing power.

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 Sierra Leone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Sierra Leone?
At $575 per month in India and $1,970 in Sierra Leone, there's a 243% gap. 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?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. 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 in Sierra Leone beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Sierra Leone?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Sierra Leone, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Sierra Leone?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Sierra Leone may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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