Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Bhilai Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Bhilai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $786 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $333 in Bhilai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,295 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $571 in Bhilai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $809 in Bhilai.

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 136% more expensive than in Bhilai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 43% lower, Bhilai 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16 ₹493
$2.62 ₹250
96.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.80 ₹1,987
$8.74 ₹835
137.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.30 ₹410
$3.18 ₹304
35.22%
Cappuccino
$2.65 ₹253
$1.97 ₹188
34.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₹35.56
$0.32 ₹31.00
15.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ₹15.27
$0.21 ₹19.73
-23.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₹258
$1.57 ₹150
71.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24 ₹405
$2.92 ₹279
45.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 ₹66.4
$0.53 ₹50.3
32.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 ₹46.29
$0.35 ₹33.64
37.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.8
$0.64 ₹61.5
18.75%
Eggs
$1.02 ₹97.7
$1.00 ₹95.6
2.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.75 ₹549
$4.18 ₹400
37.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.53 ₹337
$2.82 ₹269
25.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 ₹213
$2.34 ₹223
-4.70%
Banana (1kg)
$0.72 ₹69.0
$0.54 ₹51.7
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.23 ₹117
$0.95 ₹90.8
29.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.68
$0.44 ₹41.76
11.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 ₹33.36
$0.39 ₹37.05
-10.26%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 ₹38.30
$0.46 ₹43.92
-13.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 ₹47.27
$0.25 ₹23.88
96.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹30.09
$0.29 ₹27.40
6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10 ₹487
$5.12 ₹489
-0.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.25 ₹788
$4.88 ₹466
69.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₹195
$1.72 ₹165
18.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 ₹288
$2.78 ₹265
8.63%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.22 ₹594
$3.70 ₹354
68.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₹19.09
$0.38 ₹36.70
-47.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.93 ₹567
$6.47 ₹619
-8.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.33 ₹31.57
$1.05 ₹100
-68.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₹31.67
$0.20 ₹19.07
65.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 ₹156
$1.84 ₹176
-11.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₹109
$1.11 ₹106
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K ₹1.6M
$11.9K ₹1.1M
37.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₹2.1M
$18.1K ₹1.7M
23.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.1 ₹5,739
$32.28 ₹3,084
86.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.37 ₹417
$3.20 ₹306
36.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.32 ₹890
$4.80 ₹459
94.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.53 ₹2,631
$6.67 ₹637
312.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.67 ₹1,306
$3.15 ₹301
333.97%
Cinema Ticket
$4.62 ₹442
$3.42 ₹327
35.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 ₹11.3K
$80.5 ₹7,690
46.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,970 ₹474.8K
$1,075 ₹102.7K
362.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.94 ₹3,338
$23.92 ₹2,285
46.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.94 ₹3,625
$29.27 ₹2,796
29.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.3 ₹5,758
$23.88 ₹2,281
152.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.94 ₹4,771
$23.50 ₹2,246
112.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$641 ₹61.2K
$75.5 ₹7,210
748.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 ₹35.4K
$58.2 ₹5,561
536.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,937 ₹185.0K
$262 ₹25.0K
638.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$869 ₹83.0K
$214 ₹20.4K
306.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,174 ₹589.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,428 ₹232.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Bhilai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$810 ₹77.4K
$657 ₹62.8K
23.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.36
7.5
11.47%

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

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): September 7, 2026

Last update for Bhilai: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $641 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $75.5 in Bhilai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mumbai (Bombay) pays 23% 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: $21.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $9.00 in Bhilai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $93.0 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 136% in total monthly costs ($786 vs $333 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 23% 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: $641 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $75.5 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 $118 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $80.5 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 25% 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 $333 in Bhilai versus $786 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 136% 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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