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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $779 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $400 in Ernakulam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,255 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $647 in Ernakulam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,732 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $894 in Ernakulam, rent included.

Mumbai (Bombay) costs about 95% more than Ernakulam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mumbai (Bombay) and Ernakulam are more affordable than the global median – Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower, Ernakulam 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 ₹509

$1.72 ₹165

209.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.40 ₹2,143

$9.42 ₹902

137.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 ₹443

$4.77 ₹457

-2.94%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₹241

$1.41 ₹135

78.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₹48.47

$0.50 ₹47.73

2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₹14.71

$0.23 ₹21.83

-34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 ₹218

$1.69 ₹162

34.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 ₹378

$2.88 ₹275

37.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 ₹71.4

$0.69 ₹66.4

8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 ₹49.04

$0.53 ₹51.1

-3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 ₹74.0

$0.64 ₹61.5

20.31%

Eggs

$1.08 ₹103

$1.00 ₹95.7

8.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.14 ₹683

$6.84 ₹654

4.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 ₹372

$3.59 ₹343

8.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 ₹220

$2.33 ₹223

-1.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹77.7

$0.62 ₹59.8

30.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ₹121

$1.03 ₹98.6

22.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ₹61.0

$0.58 ₹55.2

10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₹55.1

$0.53 ₹51.0

9.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ₹60.4

$0.55 ₹52.5

14.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ₹61.3

$0.72 ₹69.2

-11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₹31.14

$0.37 ₹35.02

-10.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ₹402

$3.23 ₹309

30.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.25 ₹790

$5.13 ₹490

60.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₹208

$1.71 ₹164

26.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 ₹325

$2.45 ₹234

38.78%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$7.03 ₹673

$4.18 ₹400

68.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₹23.08

$0.28 ₹26.55

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.51 ₹432

$8.85 ₹847

-49.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 ₹35.03

$1.02 ₹97.6

-63.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ₹135

$1.19 ₹113

18.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₹114

$1.25 ₹120

-4.80%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.4K ₹1.7M

$16.6K ₹1.6M

4.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.5K ₹2.3M

$22.7K ₹2.2M

7.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$50.8 ₹4,860

$37.55 ₹3,593

35.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.81 ₹460

$3.17 ₹303

51.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.75 ₹837

$6.97 ₹667

25.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.11 ₹2,211

$16.96 ₹1,623

36.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.99 ₹1,147

$7.30 ₹698

64.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 ₹450

$2.30 ₹220

104.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$122 ₹11.6K

$73.9 ₹7,070

64.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,393 ₹324.7K

$2,395 ₹229.1K

41.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.14 ₹2,789

$25.98 ₹2,486

12.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.61 ₹2,929

$21.48 ₹2,055

42.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.2 ₹5,277

$36.72 ₹3,514

50.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.74 ₹3,803

$25.08 ₹2,400

58.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₹67.4K

$163 ₹15.6K

333.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 ₹34.1K

$102 ₹9,754

249.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,792 ₹171.5K

$423 ₹40.5K

323.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$825 ₹79.0K

$253 ₹24.2K

226.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,436 ₹615.9K

$925 ₹88.5K

596.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,627 ₹251.4K

$575 ₹55.0K

356.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 ₹71.2K

$339 ₹32.4K

119.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.22

9.36

-1.50%

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

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

Last update for Ernakulam: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $705 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $163 in Ernakulam. 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 120% 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 $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $9.00 in Ernakulam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $129 vs $113 – making Ernakulam 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 Ernakulam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mumbai (Bombay) is pricier by about 95%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,168 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) and $600 in Ernakulam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ernakulam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $779 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $400 in Ernakulam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 96% less in Ernakulam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ernakulam, where all-in costs run around $400, than in Mumbai (Bombay) at $779. In Ernakulam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mumbai (Bombay) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ernakulam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ernakulam. 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.