For one person, living is cheaper in Kannur: $329 a month against $482 in Arak, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 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 Kannur and in Arak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $329 in Kannur versus $482 in Arak.
Kannur $329
Arak $482
Estimated couple costs with rent: $519 in Kannur versus $758 in Arak.
Kannur $519
Arak $758
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $710 in Kannur versus $1,034 in Arak.
Kannur $710
Arak $1,034
🌍
Living in Kannur costs roughly 32% less than in Arak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Kannur76% lower, Arak64% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Kannur
Arak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.00₹95.4
$3.71$3.71
-73.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.18₹776
$12.65$12.65
-35.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.90₹370
$4.09$4.09
-4.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.68$0.68
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.56$0.56
-
Cappuccino
$1.26₹120
$1.36$1.36
-7.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₹41.39
$0.48$0.48
-8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16₹15.30
$1.73$1.73
-90.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56₹148
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14₹203
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kannur
Arak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.54₹51.7
$0.55$0.55
-1.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44₹41.83
$0.57$0.57
-22.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.51₹48.79
$1.90$1.90
-73.16%
Eggs
$0.75₹71.5
$1.22$1.22
-38.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.07₹482
$2.16$2.16
134.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.80₹266
$2.56$2.56
9.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.32$10.32
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.23₹212
$0.79$0.79
182.28%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64₹61.1
$1.02$1.02
-37.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.75₹70.8
$0.63$0.63
19.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.41₹38.85
$0.51$0.51
-19.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹31.99
$0.44$0.44
-22.73%
Onion(1kg)
$0.33₹31.29
$0.41$0.41
-19.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38₹35.83
$0.48$0.48
-20.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28₹26.49
$0.30$0.30
-6.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.83$0.83
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.52$0.52
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.19$2.19
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13₹393
$2.54$2.54
62.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.20₹304
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80₹171
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00₹190
-
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$3.18₹302
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kannur
Arak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20₹18.97
$0.10$0.10
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.37₹510
$9.52$9.52
-43.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29₹122
$0.25$0.25
416.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30₹28.57
$0.12$0.12
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.02₹96.8
$1.03$1.03
-0.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₹103
$0.09$0.09
1111.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,990₹853.7K
$49.8K$49.8K
-81.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.8K₹1.3M
$34.4K$34.4K
-59.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kannur
Arak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$31.51₹2,992
$9.84$9.84
220.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.72₹258
$1.49$1.49
82.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.36₹604
$3.75$3.75
69.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kannur
Arak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.20₹968
$9.87$9.87
3.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.23₹876
$24.01$24.01
-61.56%
Cinema Ticket
$2.23₹211
$1.12$1.12
99.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kannur
Arak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$51.2₹4,864
$83.5$83.5
-38.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,167₹110.8K
$2,319$2,319
-49.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kannur
Arak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.08₹2,001
$13.43$13.43
56.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.80₹1,405
$8.95$8.95
65.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$33.15₹3,147
$80.9$80.9
-59.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.73₹3,013
$51.4$51.4
-38.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kannur
Arak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$132₹12.6K
$295$295
-55.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$80.0₹7,596
$211$211
-62.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$182₹17.3K
$806$806
-77.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177₹16.8K
$359$359
-50.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$719₹68.3K
$1,354$1,354
-46.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,791₹170.0K
$656$656
173.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kannur
Arak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$267₹25.3K
$368$368
-27.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.33
18.5
-44.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kannur: October 12, 2026
Last update for Arak: October 11, 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
Kannur
$90 27.4%
Arak
$97 20.1% ↑ 7.4%$6.7
🏠Accommodation & Living
Kannur
$80 24.3%
Arak
$211 43.7% ↑ 164%$131
🍽Eating Out
Kannur
$49 15%
Arak
$67 13.9% ↑ 35.9%$18
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Kannur
$45 13.8%
Arak
$70 14.4% ↑ 53.6%$24
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kannur
$41 12.3%
Arak
$15 3.1% ↓ 62.8%$26
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Kannur
$15 4.5%
Arak
$12 2.5% ↓ 17.3%$2.5
🚌Getting Around
Kannur
$9 2.7%
Arak
$11 2.2% ↑ 20.4%$1.8
🛒Groceries & Markets
Kannur
$198 28%
Arak
$238 23% ↑ 19.7%$39
🏠Accommodation & Living
Kannur
$177 24.9%
Arak
$359 34.7% ↑ 103%$182
🍽Eating Out
Kannur
$133 18.8%
Arak
$196 19% ↑ 47.2%$63
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Kannur
$101 14.2%
Arak
$155 15% ↑ 53.6%$54
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kannur
$43 6.1%
Arak
$17 1.6% ↓ 61.7%$27
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Kannur
$39 5.4%
Arak
$48 4.7% ↑ 25.2%$9.7
🚌Getting Around
Kannur
$18 2.6%
Arak
$22 2.1% ↑ 19%$3.5
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $132 in Kannur and $295 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arak pays 38% 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 Kannur vs $13.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $90.0 vs $97.0 per month, with Kannur cheaper across the board.
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
Kannur vs Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arak cheaper than Kannur?
Kannur is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kannur or Arak?
On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Arak. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kannur and Arak?
Rent for a central apartment: $132 in Kannur versus $295 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Kannur and in Arak?
All in, you'll spend $329 per month in Kannur versus $482 in Arak – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kannur runs roughly 77% less than in Arak. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $800 enough for either Kannur or Arak?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Kannur gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Kannur or in Arak?
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.
Which city is safer, Kannur or Arak?
Safety-wise, Kannur and Arak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kannur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Arak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.