For one person, living is cheaper in Delhi: $522 a month against $936 in Mecca, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Other living expenses 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 Mecca and in Delhi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $936 per month in Mecca vs $522 in Delhi, rent included.
Mecca $936
Delhi $522
A couple spends around $1,453 per month in Mecca vs $872 in Delhi, rent included.
Mecca $1,453
Delhi $872
A family of three spends $1,970 per month in Mecca vs $1,222 in Delhi, rent included.
Mecca $1,970
Delhi $1,222
😐
Mecca costs about 79% more than Delhi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.
📊
Both Mecca and Delhi are more affordable than the global median – Mecca31% lower, Delhi61% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Mecca
Delhi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.57SAR 17.14
$3.70₹351
23.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.89SAR 101
$21.05₹1,999
27.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.07SAR 26.52
$3.73₹354
89.54%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55SAR 5.81
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49SAR 5.61
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.61SAR 9.79
$2.35₹223
11.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67SAR 2.51
$0.37₹35.21
81.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23SAR 0.86
$0.15₹13.93
53.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14₹203
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.06₹291
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mecca
Delhi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75SAR 6.57
$0.69₹65.1
153.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03SAR 3.85
$0.53₹50.0
94.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11SAR 7.91
$0.77₹73.1
174.03%
Eggs
$2.52SAR 9.46
$1.11₹105
127.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.92SAR 22.20
$4.63₹440
27.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.08SAR 30.33
$3.52₹334
129.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.95SAR 48.59
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.09SAR 7.84
$2.00₹190
4.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.94
$0.74₹70.5
113.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61SAR 6.05
$0.97₹92.6
65.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47SAR 5.52
$0.53₹49.92
177.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12SAR 4.21
$0.30₹28.61
273.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30SAR 4.87
$0.40₹37.82
225.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05SAR 3.94
$0.42₹39.62
150.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50SAR 1.86
$0.31₹29.81
61.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.06SAR 15.24
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85SAR 6.95
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59SAR 5.97
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.81SAR 25.56
$4.94₹469
37.85%
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
Mecca
Delhi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.34SAR 5.03
$0.46₹43.46
191.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$15.78₹1,498
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.43SAR 9.11
$1.07₹102
127.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75SAR 6.57
$0.27₹25.66
548.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.15SAR 49.33
$1.58₹150
732.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.38
$1.07₹101
-41.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.5KSAR 178.2K
$10.7K₹1.0M
345.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KSAR 79.3K
$18.9K₹1.8M
11.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mecca
Delhi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.9SAR 251
$42.37₹4,024
57.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.35SAR 133
$4.03₹383
777.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.2SAR 237
$6.95₹660
809.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mecca
Delhi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$80.7SAR 303
$19.18₹1,821
320.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.52SAR 160
$7.92₹752
436.87%
Cinema Ticket
$11.96SAR 44.88
$5.27₹500
126.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mecca
Delhi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$775SAR 2,907
$100₹9,525
672.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2KSAR 60.8K
$2,247₹213.4K
621.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mecca
Delhi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.57SAR 50.9
$24.11₹2,290
-43.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9SAR 214
$27.85₹2,645
104.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.67SAR 149
$52.4₹4,977
-24.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.3SAR 200
$42.90₹4,074
24.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mecca
Delhi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$533SAR 2,001
$267₹25.4K
99.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290SAR 1,088
$156₹14.8K
86.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$830SAR 3,114
$734₹69.7K
13.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523SAR 1,963
$394₹37.5K
32.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,375SAR 23.9K
$2,507₹238.0K
154.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,298SAR 8,624
$1,020₹96.8K
125.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mecca
Delhi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,083SAR 4,063
$608₹57.7K
78.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
8.33
-36.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mecca: October 11, 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
Mecca
$290 31%
Delhi
$156 29.9% ↓ 46.2%$134
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mecca
$193 20.6%
Delhi
$109 20.9% ↓ 43.6%$84
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mecca
$165 17.7%
Delhi
$53 10.2% ↓ 67.7%$112
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mecca
$105 11.2%
Delhi
$30 5.7% ↓ 71.6%$75
🍽Eating Out
Mecca
$93 9.9%
Delhi
$88 16.8% ↓ 5.1%$4.8
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mecca
$74 7.9%
Delhi
$66 12.7% ↓ 9.9%$7.3
🚌Getting Around
Mecca
$17 * 1.8%
Delhi
$20 3.8% ↑ 21%$3.5
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mecca
$523 26.6%
Delhi
$394 32.3% ↓ 24.6%$129
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mecca
$475 24.1%
Delhi
$236 19.3% ↓ 50.4%$239
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mecca
$201 10.2%
Delhi
$57 4.7% ↓ 71.4%$143
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mecca
$252 12.8%
Delhi
$67 5.5% ↓ 73.3%$184
🍽Eating Out
Mecca
$320 16.2%
Delhi
$279 22.9% ↓ 12.7%$41
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mecca
$163 8.3%
Delhi
$147 12.1% ↓ 9.9%$16
🚌Getting Around
Mecca
$36 * 1.8%
Delhi
$41 3.4% ↑ 14.5%$5.2
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $533 in Mecca 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 78% higher in Mecca, 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 $27.00 in Mecca versus $21.00 in Delhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $109 – making Delhi 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 April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mecca vs Delhi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mecca and in Delhi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $936 in Mecca, $522 in Delhi – roughly 79% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.
What salary covers living expenses in Mecca compared to Delhi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,404 per month in Mecca 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 Mecca and Delhi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Delhi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mecca or Delhi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Mecca and $522 in Delhi. That's a gap of about 79%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mecca and Delhi?
Kindergarten costs $775 per month in Mecca and $100 in Delhi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Delhi, where all-in costs run around $522, than in Mecca at $936. In Delhi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mecca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Mecca or Delhi?
Families tend to lean toward Delhi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Mecca 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 Mecca and Delhi?
If budget matters most, go with Delhi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mecca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.