Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Bhilai

For one person, living is cheaper in Bhilai: $328 a month against $813 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mumbai (Bombay), India
Bhilai, India
Mumbai (Bombay)
🇮🇳 India
$813
/mo nomad
Bhilai
🇮🇳 India
$328
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Bhilai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Bhilai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $813 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $328 in Bhilai.

  • Mumbai (Bombay) $813
  • Bhilai $328

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $557 in Bhilai.

  • Mumbai (Bombay) $1,352
  • Bhilai $557

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,891 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $786 in Bhilai.

  • Mumbai (Bombay) $1,891
  • Bhilai $786

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 148% more expensive than in Bhilai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 40% lower, Bhilai 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.35 ₹509
$2.67 ₹254
100.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.87 ₹1,988
$8.83 ₹840
136.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.08 ₹388
$3.08 ₹293
32.47%
Cappuccino
$2.78 ₹264
$1.91 ₹182
45.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₹38.34
$0.29 ₹27.14
37.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.46
$0.22 ₹20.62
-31.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.64 ₹252
$1.59 ₹152
66.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 ₹405
$2.81 ₹267
51.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 ₹70.7
$0.56 ₹53.0
32.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.54 ₹51.5
$0.39 ₹36.87
38.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 ₹74.3
$0.60 ₹57.0
30.00%
Eggs
$1.00 ₹95.3
$1.01 ₹96.4
-0.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.61 ₹534
$4.09 ₹390
37.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.58 ₹341
$2.82 ₹268
26.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₹206
$2.36 ₹224
-8.05%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 ₹66.0
$0.53 ₹50.7
30.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.21 ₹115
$0.89 ₹84.7
35.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.46
$0.48 ₹45.32
2.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 ₹31.80
$0.35 ₹33.70
-5.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₹35.63
$0.45 ₹42.44
-17.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 ₹41.91
$0.27 ₹25.82
62.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.73
$0.29 ₹27.30
6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.00 ₹476
$5.16 ₹491
-3.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.34 ₹794
$4.66 ₹443
78.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₹190
$1.69 ₹161
17.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 ₹297
$2.70 ₹257
15.56%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.01 ₹572
$3.83 ₹364
56.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₹19.01
$0.38 ₹36.56
-47.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 ₹657
$6.37 ₹607
8.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 ₹29.93
$1.02 ₹97.4
-69.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 ₹29.50
$0.22 ₹20.98
40.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 ₹154
$1.86 ₹177
-13.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₹105
$1.12 ₹107
-1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.6K ₹1.5M
$11.3K ₹1.1M
37.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₹2.1M
$18.1K ₹1.7M
23.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.9 ₹5,889
$31.61 ₹3,010
95.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.52 ₹430
$3.21 ₹306
40.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.97 ₹854
$4.79 ₹456
87.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.11 ₹3,534
$6.94 ₹661
434.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.11 ₹1,344
$3.08 ₹293
358.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.01 ₹477
$3.31 ₹315
51.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 ₹11.3K
$82.5 ₹7,855
44.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,948 ₹471.1K
$1,042 ₹99.2K
375.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.37 ₹3,463
$23.26 ₹2,214
56.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.71 ₹3,686
$28.63 ₹2,726
35.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.7 ₹5,211
$23.96 ₹2,281
128.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.03 ₹4,574
$23.58 ₹2,245
103.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$640 ₹60.9K
$73.8 ₹7,022
767.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 ₹35.4K
$58.0 ₹5,524
540.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,093 ₹199.3K
$265 ₹25.2K
689.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$925 ₹88.1K
$209 ₹19.9K
343.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,706 ₹543.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,560 ₹243.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$757 ₹72.1K
$675 ₹64.3K
12.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.29
8.82
-6.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): October 26, 2026

Last update for Bhilai: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
$372
Bhilai
$58 84.4% $314
Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
$117
Bhilai
$93 20.8% $24
Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
$112
Bhilai
$69 38.5% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
$80
Bhilai
$45 44.1% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
$75
Bhilai
$40 47.4% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
$47
Bhilai
$14 71.2% $34
Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
$9.6
Bhilai
$10 4.9% $0.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $640 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $74 in Bhilai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mumbai (Bombay) pays 12% 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: $21 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $9 in Bhilai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $93 per month, with Bhilai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Mumbai (Bombay)
🇮🇳 Bhilai
🕒 Local time
00:11 12:11 AM
00:11 12:11 AM
Same time as Mumbai (Bombay)
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,442,373
627,734
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.22 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mumbai (Bombay) Bhilai 920 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mumbai (Bombay)
  • Bhilai

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
Mumbai (Bombay) vs Bhilai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Bhilai?
Mumbai (Bombay) and Bhilai differ by about 148% in total monthly costs ($813 vs $328 including rent). Bhilai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mumbai (Bombay) or Bhilai?
Average pay runs 12% higher in Mumbai (Bombay), which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Bhilai?
Rent for a central apartment: $640 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $74 in Bhilai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mumbai (Bombay) and Bhilai?
Childcare runs $119 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $82 in Bhilai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $1,200 go in Mumbai (Bombay) compared to Bhilai?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bhilai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Mumbai (Bombay) and Bhilai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Mumbai (Bombay) or Bhilai?
Expats usually find Bhilai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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