😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $765 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $310 in Bhilai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,268 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $511 in Bhilai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,770 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $713 in Bhilai.
🌍Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 147% more expensive than in Bhilai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay)43% lower, Bhilai77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.37₹507
$2.58₹244
108.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.77₹2,053
$7.95₹750
173.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.59₹433
$3.28₹309
39.94%
Cappuccino
$2.56₹241
$1.78₹168
43.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₹44.07
$0.28₹26.36
67.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹18.21
$0.17₹16.19
11.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25₹213
$1.55₹147
45.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13₹389
$3.23₹304
27.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74₹69.7
$0.67₹63.2
10.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48₹45.61
$0.30₹28.06
60.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.79₹74.2
$0.69₹65.0
14.49%
Eggs
$1.08₹101
$0.90₹84.5
20.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.18₹677
$4.72₹445
52.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.94₹371
$2.78₹263
41.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31₹218
$2.13₹201
8.45%
Banana(1kg)
$0.82₹77.2
$0.56₹52.6
46.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30₹123
$0.63₹59.0
106.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64₹60.3
$0.39₹36.75
64.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.57₹53.9
$0.39₹36.84
46.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62₹58.8
$0.43₹40.38
44.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64₹60.0
$0.22₹20.65
190.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹33.23
$0.29₹27.72
20.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21₹397
$2.27₹214
85.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22₹776
$4.84₹457
69.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10₹198
$1.00₹94.8
110.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30₹311
$2.35₹221
40.43%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.25₹684
$3.97₹374
82.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22₹20.61
$0.22₹20.73
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.59₹433
$2.89₹273
58.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33₹31.48
$1.19₹112
-72.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.24₹22.75
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.41₹133
$1.76₹166
-19.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₹112
$1.16₹110
1.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K₹1.7M
$11.4K₹1.1M
53.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K₹2.4M
$20.4K₹1.9M
22.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.3₹4,841
$23.00₹2,169
123.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.05₹476
$3.82₹360
32.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.01₹850
$6.16₹581
46.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.71₹2,142
$3.58₹338
534.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.11₹1,142
$6.96₹657
73.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.78₹451
$1.70₹161
181.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$119₹11.2K
$58.2₹5,493
104.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,361₹317.0K
$1,538₹145.0K
118.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.66₹2,798
$17.50₹1,651
69.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.13₹2,936
$17.73₹1,673
75.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.4₹5,226
$17.27₹1,629
220.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.58₹3,828
$27.41₹2,586
48.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$689₹65.0K
$122₹11.5K
466.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$354₹33.4K
$68.5₹6,457
416.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,843₹173.8K
$277₹26.1K
565.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$851₹80.3K
$181₹17.1K
369.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,359₹599.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,719₹256.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$744₹70.2K
$664₹62.7K
12.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.22
8
15.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): June 15, 2026
Last update for Bhilai: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $689 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $122 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: $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $8.00 in Bhilai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $129 vs $88.0 per month, with Bhilai 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
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 147% in total monthly costs ($765 vs $310 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: $689 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $122 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 $58.2 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 46% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $310 in Bhilai versus $765 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bhilai but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Bhilai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 147% 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