😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $563 in Bangalore.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,255 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $963 in Bangalore.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,732 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $1,362 in Bangalore.
😐Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 38% more expensive than Bangalore, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay)42% lower, Bangalore58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bangalore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32₹509
$3.42₹328
55.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.40₹2,145
$17.49₹1,675
28.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.63₹443
$4.09₹392
13.20%
Cappuccino
$2.52₹241
$2.27₹217
11.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51₹48.51
$0.46₹43.77
10.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.72
$0.16₹15.38
-6.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28₹218
$2.28₹218
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95₹378
$4.14₹397
-4.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bangalore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75₹71.4
$0.61₹58.0
22.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51₹49.08
$0.58₹56.0
-12.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77₹74.1
$0.86₹82.5
-10.47%
Eggs
$1.08₹103
$1.02₹97.5
5.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.14₹684
$7.69₹737
-7.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.88₹372
$3.70₹354
4.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30₹220
$2.64₹253
-12.88%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81₹77.8
$0.81₹77.2
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26₹121
$1.13₹108
11.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64₹61.1
$0.44₹42.12
45.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58₹55.1
$0.51₹48.61
13.73%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63₹60.5
$0.55₹52.3
14.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64₹61.4
$0.48₹45.58
33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33₹31.17
$0.35₹33.52
-5.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20₹402
$3.98₹381
5.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25₹790
$10.28₹984
-19.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17₹208
$2.15₹206
0.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40₹326
$3.28₹315
3.66%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.03₹674
$7.57₹725
-7.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bangalore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹23.10
$0.59₹56.5
-59.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.51₹432
$14.61₹1,399
-69.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37₹35.06
$1.18₹113
-68.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.33₹31.30
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.41₹135
$2.36₹226
-40.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19₹114
$1.19₹114
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K₹1.7M
$14.0K₹1.3M
24.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K₹2.3M
$24.7K₹2.4M
-0.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bangalore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.8₹4,864
$34.40₹3,295
47.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.81₹461
$4.95₹474
-2.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.75₹838
$10.97₹1,051
-20.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bangalore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.11₹2,213
$18.59₹1,780
24.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.99₹1,148
$5.98₹573
100.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.71₹451
$4.66₹446
1.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bangalore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$122₹11.6K
$116₹11.1K
4.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,393₹325.0K
$3,236₹310.0K
4.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bangalore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.14₹2,791
$27.98₹2,680
4.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.61₹2,932
$29.75₹2,849
2.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.2₹5,282
$54.6₹5,230
1.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.74₹3,806
$40.21₹3,852
-1.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bangalore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$705₹67.5K
$306₹29.3K
130.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357₹34.2K
$179₹17.2K
98.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,792₹171.6K
$842₹80.6K
112.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$825₹79.1K
$486₹46.6K
69.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,436₹616.4K
$1,812₹173.6K
255.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,627₹251.6K
$962₹92.2K
172.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bangalore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$744₹71.3K
$876₹83.9K
-15.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.22
9.19
0.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): May 31, 2026
Last update for Bangalore: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $306 in Bangalore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bangalore pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $17.00 in Bangalore. Groceries flip the comparison at $129 vs $132, with Mumbai (Bombay) cheaper for home cooking.
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
Mumbai (Bombay) vs Bangalore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mumbai (Bombay) or Bangalore?
Bangalore wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bangalore the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mumbai (Bombay) or Bangalore?
On paper, Bangalore earns 18% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mumbai (Bombay) vs Bangalore?
Rent for a central apartment: $705 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $306 in Bangalore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mumbai (Bombay) vs Bangalore?
A monthly transit pass in Bangalore runs roughly 224% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Mumbai (Bombay) and Bangalore?
Childcare runs $122 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $116 in Bangalore. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mumbai (Bombay) or Bangalore?
At $563 in Bangalore versus $779 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bangalore but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Bangalore the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mumbai (Bombay) or Bangalore?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bangalore delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $563 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bangalore hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bangalore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mumbai (Bombay) vs other spots: cost of living compared