Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mahabad and in Delhi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $522 per month in Mahabad vs $522 in Delhi, rent included.
Mahabad $522
Delhi $522
A couple spends around $849 per month in Mahabad vs $872 in Delhi, rent included.
Mahabad $849
Delhi $872
A family of three spends $1,177 per month in Mahabad vs $1,222 in Delhi, rent included.
Mahabad $1,177
Delhi $1,222
🙂
Mahabad and Delhi have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊
Both Mahabad and Delhi are more affordable than the global median – Mahabad61% lower, Delhi61% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Mahabad
Delhi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97$2.97
$3.70₹351
-19.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.06$17.06
$21.05₹1,999
-18.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.06$4.06
$3.73₹354
8.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.80$0.80
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08$1.08
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.13$1.13
$2.35₹223
-51.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52$0.52
$0.37₹35.21
40.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94$0.94
$0.15₹13.93
526.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14₹203
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.06₹291
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahabad
Delhi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.65$0.65
$0.69₹65.1
-5.80%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51$0.51
$0.53₹50.0
-3.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07$2.07
$0.77₹73.1
168.83%
Eggs
$1.18$1.18
$1.11₹105
6.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$4.63₹440
-7.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21$3.21
$3.52₹334
-8.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.58$7.58
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.00$1.00
$2.00₹190
-50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55$1.55
$0.74₹70.5
109.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86$0.86
$0.97₹92.6
-11.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.61$0.61
$0.53₹49.92
15.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54$0.54
$0.30₹28.61
80.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47$0.47
$0.40₹37.82
17.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53$0.53
$0.42₹39.62
26.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26$0.26
$0.31₹29.81
-16.13%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.92$0.92
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.52$0.52
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34$1.34
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14$2.14
$4.94₹469
-56.68%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$8.21₹779
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58₹150
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.69₹255
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.19₹588
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mahabad
Delhi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15$0.15
$0.46₹43.46
-67.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.76$8.76
$15.78₹1,498
-44.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44$0.44
$1.07₹102
-58.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29$0.29
$0.27₹25.66
7.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.87$2.87
$1.58₹150
81.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.10$0.10
$1.07₹101
-90.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.7K$47.7K
$10.7K₹1.0M
347.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$47.6K$47.6K
$18.9K₹1.8M
151.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahabad
Delhi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$12.32$12.32
$42.37₹4,024
-70.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.58$1.58
$4.03₹383
-60.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.76$3.76
$6.95₹660
-45.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahabad
Delhi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.63$18.63
$19.18₹1,821
-2.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.75$11.75
$7.92₹752
48.36%
Cinema Ticket
$1.97$1.97
$5.27₹500
-62.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahabad
Delhi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106$106
$100₹9,525
6.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,234$2,234
$2,247₹213.4K
-0.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahabad
Delhi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.20$23.20
$24.11₹2,290
-3.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.48$28.48
$27.85₹2,645
2.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.3$96.3
$52.4₹4,977
83.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.4$71.4
$42.90₹4,074
66.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahabad
Delhi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$264$264
$267₹25.4K
-1.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$211$211
$156₹14.8K
35.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$728$728
$734₹69.7K
-0.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$408$408
$394₹37.5K
3.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,131$1,131
$2,507₹238.0K
-54.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$530$530
$1,020₹96.8K
-48.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahabad
Delhi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$253$253
$608₹57.7K
-58.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
24.3
8.33
191.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mahabad: October 10, 2026
Last update for Delhi: October 12, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mahabad
$211 40.5%
Delhi
$156 29.9% ↓ 26.2%$55
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mahabad
$105 20.1%
Delhi
$109 20.9% ↑ 3.8%$4
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mahabad
$99 18.9%
Delhi
$66 12.7% ↓ 32.9%$32
🍽Eating Out
Mahabad
$55 10.6%
Delhi
$88 16.8% ↑ 58.8%$33
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mahabad
$23 4.3%
Delhi
$30 5.7% ↑ 31.6%$7.1
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahabad
$18 3.4%
Delhi
$53 10.2% ↑ 202%$36
🚌Getting Around
Mahabad
$11 2.2%
Delhi
$20 3.8% ↑ 77.7%$8.8
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mahabad
$408 34.7%
Delhi
$394 32.3% ↓ 3.3%$13
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mahabad
$256 21.7%
Delhi
$236 19.3% ↓ 7.9%$20
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mahabad
$219 18.6%
Delhi
$147 12.1% ↓ 32.9%$72
🍽Eating Out
Mahabad
$195 16.6%
Delhi
$279 22.9% ↑ 43.3%$84
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mahabad
$57 4.8%
Delhi
$67 5.5% ↑ 18.3%$10
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahabad
$19 1.6%
Delhi
$57 4.7% ↑ 198%$38
🚌Getting Around
Mahabad
$23 1.9%
Delhi
$41 3.4% ↑ 79.3%$18
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $264 in Mahabad versus $267 in Delhi. 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 140% higher in Delhi. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Mahabad versus $21.00 in Delhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $105 vs $109 – making Mahabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mahabad vs Delhi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Mahabad compared to Delhi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $783 per month in Mahabad and $783 in Delhi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mahabad and Delhi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahabad, 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 4% more in Delhi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mahabad and Delhi?
Kindergarten costs $106 per month in Mahabad and $100 in Delhi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,000 go in Mahabad compared to Delhi?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $522 in Mahabad and $522 in Delhi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Mahabad or Delhi?
Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Mahabad or Delhi 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 Mahabad and Delhi?
If budget matters most, go with Mahabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Delhi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.