Cost of Living Comparison Between Kollam and KhammamCost of Living Comparison Between Kollam and Khammam
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $298 per month in Kollam vs $331 in Khammam, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $481 per month in Kollam vs $521 in Khammam, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $664 per month in Kollam vs $710 in Khammam, rent included.
🙂Kollam is about 10% cheaper than Khammam, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Kollam and Khammam are more affordable than the global median – Kollam78% lower, Khammam75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kollam
Khammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.19₹114
$1.41₹136
-15.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$6.86₹661
$13.99₹1,347
-50.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.10₹395
$2.65₹255
54.72%
Cappuccino
$1.30₹125
$0.87₹83.5
49.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₹38.58
$0.30₹28.67
33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13₹12.80
$0.16₹15.29
-18.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₹172
$1.78₹172
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93₹282
$2.92₹282
0.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kollam
Khammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63₹60.6
$0.80₹76.6
-21.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44₹42.31
$0.47₹45.25
-6.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.48₹46.41
$0.59₹56.7
-18.64%
Eggs
$0.87₹83.4
$0.88₹85.0
-1.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.28₹509
$3.73₹359
41.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.25₹217
$3.83₹369
-41.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16₹208
$1.70₹164
27.06%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63₹60.2
$0.71₹68.8
-11.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.74₹71.0
$1.04₹99.9
-28.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.45₹43.31
$0.42₹40.49
7.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49₹47.02
$0.50₹47.70
-2.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36₹34.93
$0.52₹49.98
-30.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42₹40.62
$0.43₹41.24
-2.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.58
$0.34₹32.41
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.55₹342
$3.13₹301
13.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$2.62₹253
$5.24₹505
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28₹220
$1.73₹166
31.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82₹272
$2.03₹196
38.92%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$4.48₹431
$3.61₹348
24.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Kollam
Khammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11₹10.14
$0.40₹38.31
-72.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.08₹778
$17.32₹1,667
-53.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₹110
$1.13₹108
0.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32₹30.97
$0.12₹11.89
166.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.61₹155
$1.54₹148
4.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17₹113
$1.30₹125
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.4K₹1.1M
$12.8K₹1.2M
-10.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.0K₹1.5M
$11.8K₹1.1M
35.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kollam
Khammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$27.57₹2,654
$39.56₹3,809
-30.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.41₹328
$2.47₹238
38.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.86₹564
$8.41₹809
-30.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kollam
Khammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.04₹1,159
$11.43₹1,100
5.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.35₹1,382
$5.18₹498
177.03%
Cinema Ticket
$1.76₹169
$2.36₹227
-25.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kollam
Khammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$23.47₹2,260
$31.81₹3,063
-26.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,548₹149.1K
$774₹74.5K
99.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kollam
Khammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.58₹1,789
$24.07₹2,317
-22.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.42₹1,870
$15.44₹1,486
25.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$28.25₹2,719
$34.28₹3,300
-17.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.39₹2,637
$17.37₹1,672
57.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kollam
Khammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$92.9₹8,942
$81.7₹7,867
13.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.4₹5,042
$52.4₹5,044
-0.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203₹19.5K
$161₹15.5K
26.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$129₹12.4K
$101₹9,700
28.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$836₹80.4K
$1,065₹102.6K
-21.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$458₹44.1K
$209₹20.1K
119.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kollam
Khammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$527₹50.7K
$497₹47.8K
6.01%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Khammam: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $92.9 in Kollam versus $81.7 in Khammam. 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 6% higher in Kollam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $7.00 in Kollam versus $14.00 in Khammam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $93.0 vs $99.0 – 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 Khammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kollam and in Khammam compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $298 in Kollam, $331 in Khammam – roughly 11% apart. Khammam costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kollam compared to Khammam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $448 per month in Kollam and $497 in Khammam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kollam and Khammam?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Khammam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $7.00 in Kollam and $14.00 in Khammam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $800 go in Kollam compared to Khammam?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $298 in Kollam and $331 in Khammam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kollam or Khammam?
Families tend to lean toward Kollam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Kollam or Khammam safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kollam and Khammam?
If budget matters most, go with Kollam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Khammam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.