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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $393 in Dharwad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,255 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $621 in Dharwad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,732 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $850 in Dharwad.

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 98% more expensive than Dharwad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower, Dharwad 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dharwad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32 ₹509
$2.36 ₹226
125.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.40 ₹2,143
$10.59 ₹1,013
111.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.63 ₹443
$3.82 ₹366
21.20%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₹241
$1.52 ₹146
65.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₹48.47
$0.37 ₹35.76
37.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.71
$0.14 ₹13.29
7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 ₹218
$1.78 ₹170
28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 ₹378
$3.11 ₹298
27.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dharwad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 ₹71.4
$0.69 ₹66.4
8.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 ₹49.04
$0.46 ₹43.62
10.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 ₹74.0
$0.68 ₹64.6
13.24%
Eggs
$1.08 ₹103
$0.88 ₹84.6
22.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.14 ₹683
$4.86 ₹465
46.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 ₹372
$2.93 ₹280
32.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 ₹220
$1.97 ₹188
16.75%
Banana (1kg)
$0.81 ₹77.7
$0.73 ₹70.3
10.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 ₹121
$0.99 ₹94.7
27.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 ₹61.0
$0.54 ₹51.8
18.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ₹55.1
$0.35 ₹33.96
65.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₹60.4
$0.44 ₹42.35
43.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 ₹61.3
$0.49 ₹46.63
30.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.14
$0.34 ₹32.56
-2.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ₹402
$3.89 ₹373
7.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.25 ₹790
$6.21 ₹595
32.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₹208
$1.74 ₹167
24.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 ₹325
$2.90 ₹278
17.24%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$7.03 ₹673
$5.01 ₹480
40.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dharwad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₹23.08
$0.28 ₹26.78
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.51 ₹432
$8.81 ₹843
-48.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 ₹35.03
$0.85 ₹80.9
-56.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.26 ₹24.89
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ₹135
$1.49 ₹142
-5.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ₹114
$1.16 ₹111
2.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K ₹1.7M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
25.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K ₹2.3M
$21.8K ₹2.1M
12.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dharwad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.8 ₹4,860
$38.55 ₹3,690
31.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.81 ₹460
$3.55 ₹339
35.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.75 ₹837
$7.55 ₹723
15.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dharwad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.11 ₹2,211
$15.86 ₹1,518
45.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.99 ₹1,147
$6.86 ₹657
74.78%
Cinema Ticket
$4.71 ₹450
$2.88 ₹275
63.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dharwad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$122 ₹11.6K
$51.8 ₹4,960
134.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,393 ₹324.7K
$1,546 ₹147.9K
119.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dharwad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.14 ₹2,789
$23.88 ₹2,285
22.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.61 ₹2,929
$25.24 ₹2,415
21.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.2 ₹5,277
$42.40 ₹4,058
30.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.74 ₹3,803
$32.26 ₹3,087
23.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dharwad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 ₹67.4K
$123 ₹11.7K
475.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 ₹34.1K
$77.2 ₹7,388
361.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,792 ₹171.5K
$273 ₹26.1K
556.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$825 ₹79.0K
$179 ₹17.1K
360.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,436 ₹615.9K
$962 ₹92.0K
569.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,627 ₹251.4K
$539 ₹51.6K
387.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Dharwad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$744 ₹71.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.22
8.67
6.34%

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

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): May 31, 2026

Last update for Dharwad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $123 in Dharwad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $11.00 in Dharwad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $129 vs $103 per month, with Dharwad 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 Dharwad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mumbai (Bombay) and Dharwad?
Mumbai (Bombay) and Dharwad differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($779 vs $393 including rent). Dharwad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mumbai (Bombay) compared to Dharwad?
You'd need roughly $1,168 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $589 in Dharwad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mumbai (Bombay) and Dharwad?
Rent for a central apartment: $705 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $123 in Dharwad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mumbai (Bombay) or Dharwad?
All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $393 in Dharwad – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Mumbai (Bombay) and Dharwad?
A monthly transit pass in Dharwad runs roughly 95% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $393 in Dharwad versus $779 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dharwad but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Dharwad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mumbai (Bombay) and Dharwad?
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.
Is Mumbai (Bombay) or Dharwad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mumbai (Bombay) and Dharwad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mumbai (Bombay) or Dharwad?
Expats usually find Dharwad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% 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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