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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $786 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $302 in Dhanbad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,295 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $489 in Dhanbad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,805 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $675 in Dhanbad, rent included.

Mumbai (Bombay) costs about 160% more than Dhanbad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mumbai (Bombay) and Dhanbad are more affordable than the global median – Mumbai (Bombay) 43% lower, Dhanbad 78% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dhanbad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16 ₹493
$1.61 ₹154
220.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.80 ₹1,987
$9.29 ₹888
123.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.30 ₹410
$3.21 ₹307
33.96%
Cappuccino
$2.65 ₹253
$1.39 ₹132
90.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₹35.56
$0.35 ₹33.91
5.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ₹15.27
$0.14 ₹13.12
14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₹258
$1.95 ₹187
38.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24 ₹405
$4.31 ₹412
-1.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dhanbad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 ₹66.4
$0.63 ₹59.7
11.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 ₹46.29
$0.44 ₹41.87
9.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.8
$0.58 ₹55.2
31.03%
Eggs
$1.02 ₹97.7
$0.89 ₹84.9
14.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.75 ₹549
$3.69 ₹353
55.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.53 ₹337
$2.27 ₹217
55.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 ₹213
$1.43 ₹136
55.94%
Banana (1kg)
$0.72 ₹69.0
$0.67 ₹63.8
7.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.23 ₹117
$1.02 ₹97.4
20.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.68
$0.42 ₹40.28
16.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 ₹33.36
$0.21 ₹20.00
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 ₹38.30
$0.39 ₹37.59
2.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 ₹47.27
$0.44 ₹41.92
11.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹30.09
$0.27 ₹25.76
14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10 ₹487
$5.11 ₹488
-0.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.25 ₹788
$3.13 ₹299
163.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₹195
$1.59 ₹152
28.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 ₹288
$2.05 ₹196
47.32%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.22 ₹594
$6.83 ₹653
-8.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dhanbad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₹19.09
$0.20 ₹19.07
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.93 ₹567
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.33 ₹31.57
$1.29 ₹123
-74.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₹31.67
$0.12 ₹11.75
175.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 ₹156
$1.08 ₹103
50.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₹109
$1.09 ₹104
4.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K ₹1.6M
$8,486 ₹810.7K
93.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₹2.1M
$27.6K ₹2.6M
-18.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dhanbad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.1 ₹5,739
$45.37 ₹4,335
32.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.37 ₹417
$2.78 ₹266
57.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.32 ₹890
$6.64 ₹635
40.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dhanbad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.53 ₹2,631
$11.48 ₹1,097
139.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.67 ₹1,306
$6.35 ₹607
115.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.62 ₹442
$2.62 ₹251
76.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dhanbad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 ₹11.3K
$30.09 ₹2,875
292.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,970 ₹474.8K
$1,175 ₹112.2K
323.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dhanbad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.94 ₹3,338
$23.64 ₹2,259
47.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.94 ₹3,625
$28.84 ₹2,755
31.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.3 ₹5,758
$39.29 ₹3,754
53.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.94 ₹4,771
$25.04 ₹2,392
99.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dhanbad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$641 ₹61.2K
$60.9 ₹5,822
951.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 ₹35.4K
$39.82 ₹3,804
830.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,937 ₹185.0K
$170 ₹16.2K
1038.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$869 ₹83.0K
$110 ₹10.5K
689.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,174 ₹589.9K
$1,588 ₹151.7K
288.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,428 ₹232.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dhanbad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$810 ₹77.4K
$377 ₹36.1K
114.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.36
9
-7.11%

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

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

Last update for Dhanbad: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $641 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $60.9 in Dhanbad. 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 115% higher in Mumbai (Bombay), 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 $21.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $9.00 in Dhanbad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $81.0 – making Dhanbad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dhanbad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhanbad cheaper than Mumbai (Bombay)?
Yes – Mumbai (Bombay) is pricier by about 160%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,178 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) and $454 in Dhanbad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhanbad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Dhanbad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $786 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $302 in Dhanbad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $118 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) and $30.09 in Dhanbad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mumbai (Bombay) or in Dhanbad?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dhanbad, where all-in costs run around $302, than in Mumbai (Bombay) at $786. In Dhanbad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mumbai (Bombay) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mumbai (Bombay) or Dhanbad more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dhanbad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mumbai (Bombay) or Dhanbad?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Dhanbad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mumbai (Bombay) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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