🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $544 in Malda versus $759 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $684 in Malda versus $1,262 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $824 in Malda versus $1,766 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Living in Malda costs roughly 28% less than in Mumbai (Bombay), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Malda59% lower, Mumbai (Bombay)43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malda
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.26₹309
$5.31₹504
-38.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.62₹1,103
$22.21₹2,108
-47.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.52₹334
$4.67₹443
-24.63%
Cappuccino
$1.79₹170
$2.62₹249
-31.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₹38.23
$0.51₹48.04
-21.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.12
$0.15₹14.08
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72₹163
$2.27₹216
-24.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₹273
$4.09₹388
-29.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malda
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63₹59.5
$0.80₹75.7
-21.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43₹40.75
$0.52₹49.64
-17.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.49₹46.59
$0.82₹77.5
-40.24%
Eggs
$0.80₹76.4
$1.09₹104
-26.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.41₹514
$7.02₹666
-22.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.53₹240
$3.89₹369
-34.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51₹238
$2.38₹226
5.46%
Banana(1kg)
$0.79₹75.3
$0.80₹76.3
-1.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28₹121
$1.30₹123
-1.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65₹61.6
$0.65₹61.7
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.28₹26.35
$0.57₹53.7
-50.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.33₹31.73
$0.63₹60.2
-47.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42₹39.47
$0.63₹60.1
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17₹16.31
$0.33₹31.00
-48.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86₹367
$4.00₹380
-3.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.81₹931
$8.07₹766
21.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₹160
$2.16₹205
-22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48₹236
$3.39₹322
-26.84%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$2.50₹238
$7.13₹677
-64.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Malda
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30₹28.53
$0.24₹22.82
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.64₹820
$4.63₹440
86.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.55₹52.4
$0.34₹32.17
61.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28₹26.29
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.08₹197
$1.40₹133
48.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24₹118
$1.22₹116
1.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.9K₹1.5M
$17.3K₹1.6M
-7.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K₹2.2M
$25.3K₹2.4M
-9.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malda
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.19₹3,911
$50.2₹4,764
-17.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.85₹365
$5.00₹474
-23.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.78₹549
$8.79₹835
-34.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malda
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.15₹1,533
$23.18₹2,201
-30.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.99₹664
$11.81₹1,121
-40.81%
Cinema Ticket
$4.02₹382
$4.70₹446
-14.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malda
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.03₹4,085
$121₹11.5K
-64.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,600₹151.9K
$3,385₹321.4K
-52.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malda
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$8.06₹765
$29.30₹2,782
-72.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.03₹762
$30.72₹2,917
-73.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.87₹4,640
$55.0₹5,225
-11.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$9.14₹868
$39.51₹3,751
-76.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malda
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$289₹27.5K
$694₹65.9K
-58.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231₹21.9K
$359₹34.1K
-35.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$411₹39.0K
$1,797₹170.6K
-77.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182₹17.3K
$821₹77.9K
-77.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,515₹618.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,661₹252.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malda
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$378₹35.9K
$719₹68.3K
-47.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.9
9.22
7.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malda: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $289 in Malda and $694 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mumbai (Bombay) pays 90% 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: $12.00 in Malda vs $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $109 vs $130 per month, with Malda cheaper across the board.
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
Malda vs Mumbai (Bombay): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mumbai (Bombay) cheaper than Malda?
Malda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Malda or Mumbai (Bombay)?
On paper, Mumbai (Bombay) earns 90% less. 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 Malda and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Rent for a central apartment: $289 in Malda versus $694 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Malda and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Malda or Mumbai (Bombay)?
Dining out is cheaper in Malda – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Malda or Mumbai (Bombay)?
At $544 in Malda versus $759 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Malda but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Malda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Malda or Mumbai (Bombay) more family-friendly?
For families, Malda is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mumbai (Bombay), and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Malda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.