🙂A single person spends $298 per month in Kollam vs $510 in Hyderabad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $480 per month in Kollam vs $851 in Hyderabad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $663 per month in Kollam vs $1,192 in Hyderabad, rent included.
🙂Kollam is about 42% cheaper than Hyderabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kollam and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Kollam78% lower, Hyderabad62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kollam
Hyderabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.18₹112
$3.55₹337
-66.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$6.93₹659
$17.60₹1,674
-60.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.02₹382
$5.31₹505
-24.29%
Cappuccino
$1.29₹123
$1.99₹189
-35.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₹35.54
$0.41₹39.10
-9.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12₹11.62
$0.15₹14.58
-20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75₹166
$2.06₹196
-15.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86₹272
$3.59₹341
-20.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kollam
Hyderabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63₹59.6
$0.87₹82.9
-27.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44₹41.81
$0.56₹53.7
-21.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.49₹46.42
$0.78₹74.2
-37.18%
Eggs
$0.86₹82.1
$1.03₹98.4
-16.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.08₹483
$6.22₹591
-18.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.26₹215
$3.84₹365
-41.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23₹212
$2.65₹252
-15.85%
Banana(1kg)
$0.62₹59.0
$0.71₹67.4
-12.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.74₹70.6
$1.05₹99.8
-29.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48₹45.87
$0.50₹47.58
-4.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48₹45.90
$0.50₹47.83
-4.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36₹34.55
$0.51₹48.80
-29.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39₹37.32
$0.67₹63.3
-41.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.12
$0.33₹31.74
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58₹341
$4.03₹384
-11.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$2.54₹242
$8.49₹808
-70.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26₹215
$1.98₹188
14.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95₹281
$2.85₹271
3.51%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$4.62₹439
$6.54₹622
-29.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Kollam
Hyderabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14₹12.92
$0.59₹56.5
-76.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.99₹760
$15.08₹1,434
-47.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13₹107
$1.15₹109
-1.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30₹28.41
$0.33₹31.15
-9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.64₹156
$1.53₹145
7.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21₹115
$1.28₹122
-5.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.8K₹1.1M
$17.7K₹1.7M
-33.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.3K₹1.5M
$24.5K₹2.3M
-33.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kollam
Hyderabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$27.31₹2,597
$39.31₹3,738
-30.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.25₹309
$4.46₹424
-27.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.81₹552
$8.62₹820
-32.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kollam
Hyderabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.95₹1,136
$21.47₹2,042
-44.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.23₹1,354
$7.84₹745
81.51%
Cinema Ticket
$1.77₹169
$3.96₹376
-55.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kollam
Hyderabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$23.17₹2,203
$116₹11.0K
-80.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,520₹144.5K
$2,607₹247.9K
-41.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kollam
Hyderabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.89₹1,701
$30.84₹2,933
-41.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.80₹1,883
$24.47₹2,327
-19.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$28.20₹2,682
$48.15₹4,579
-41.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.85₹2,553
$38.62₹3,673
-30.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kollam
Hyderabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$90.7₹8,626
$239₹22.7K
-62.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.7₹4,920
$134₹12.8K
-61.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203₹19.3K
$624₹59.3K
-67.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$127₹12.1K
$333₹31.6K
-61.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$839₹79.8K
$1,363₹129.6K
-38.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$457₹43.4K
$779₹74.0K
-41.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kollam
Hyderabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$517₹49.2K
$1,217₹115.7K
-57.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.97
9.19
-2.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kollam: June 7, 2026
Last update for Hyderabad: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $90.7 in Kollam versus $239 in Hyderabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 135% higher in Hyderabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $7.00 in Kollam versus $18.00 in Hyderabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $92.0 vs $125 – making Kollam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Kollam vs Hyderabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kollam or Hyderabad?
Hyderabad costs about 71% more than Kollam, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kollam vs Hyderabad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $447 per month in Kollam and $765 in Hyderabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kollam or Hyderabad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kollam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Kollam vs Hyderabad?
Public transport costs about 89% less in Kollam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Kollam and Hyderabad?
Kindergarten costs $23.17 per month in Kollam and $116 in Hyderabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Kollam or Hyderabad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $298 in Kollam and $510 in Hyderabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kollam or Hyderabad?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kollam costs $298 versus $510 in Hyderabad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kollam compared to Hyderabad?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kollam or Hyderabad?
If budget matters most, go with Kollam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hyderabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.