😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $763 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $367 in Kota.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,259 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $580 in Kota.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,754 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $792 in Kota.
🌍Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 108% more expensive than in Kota, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay)43% lower, Kota73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kota
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.17₹498
$2.39₹230
116.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.50₹2,166
$8.48₹816
165.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.70₹452
$2.83₹272
66.08%
Cappuccino
$2.60₹251
$0.71₹68.5
266.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₹48.58
$0.39₹37.87
28.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹18.22
$0.16₹15.69
18.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.33₹224
$1.79₹172
30.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18₹403
$3.15₹303
32.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kota
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73₹70.1
$0.62₹59.6
17.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48₹46.49
$0.43₹41.56
11.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82₹79.3
$0.74₹71.7
10.81%
Eggs
$1.05₹101
$0.91₹87.3
15.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87₹661
$4.79₹462
43.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.89₹374
$2.74₹264
41.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29₹220
$1.72₹166
33.14%
Banana(1kg)
$0.83₹79.7
$0.52₹50.1
59.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30₹125
$0.80₹76.6
62.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65₹63.0
$0.49₹47.08
32.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.57₹54.8
$0.31₹29.59
83.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58₹56.3
$0.43₹41.28
34.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64₹61.9
$0.36₹34.77
77.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹33.81
$0.37₹35.31
-5.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22₹406
$4.06₹391
3.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.18₹787
$7.75₹747
5.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08₹200
$1.66₹160
25.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27₹315
$3.68₹354
-11.14%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.98₹672
$4.20₹405
66.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kota
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22₹21.17
$0.55₹53.4
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.69₹451
$8.50₹818
-44.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37₹35.23
$0.34₹32.58
8.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.22₹21.04
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.37₹132
$1.41₹136
-2.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₹114
$1.26₹121
-6.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K₹1.7M
$11.6K₹1.1M
48.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K₹2.4M
$16.6K₹1.6M
49.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kota
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.2₹4,833
$30.59₹2,945
64.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.08₹489
$2.81₹271
80.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.62₹830
$7.21₹694
19.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kota
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.20₹2,234
$10.64₹1,024
118.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.85₹1,141
$2.38₹229
397.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70₹452
$3.55₹342
32.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kota
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118₹11.4K
$37.70₹3,629
213.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,379₹325.3K
$728₹70.1K
363.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kota
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.21₹2,812
$21.48₹2,068
35.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.19₹3,003
$27.23₹2,621
14.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.6₹5,444
$50.8₹4,888
11.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.55₹3,904
$25.07₹2,413
61.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kota
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$697₹67.1K
$161₹15.5K
331.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357₹34.4K
$87.2₹8,394
309.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,783₹171.7K
$312₹30.0K
471.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$844₹81.3K
$190₹18.3K
344.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,047₹582.1K
$561₹54.0K
978.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,517₹242.4K
$344₹33.1K
632.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kota
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$787₹75.8K
$421₹40.6K
86.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.22
7.5
22.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): July 13, 2026
Last update for Kota: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $697 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $161 in Kota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mumbai (Bombay) pays 87% 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: $23.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $8.00 in Kota for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $127 vs $101 per month, with Kota 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 Kota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Kota?
Mumbai (Bombay) and Kota differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($763 vs $367 including rent). Kota is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mumbai (Bombay) or Kota?
Average pay runs 87% 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 Kota?
Rent for a central apartment: $697 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $161 in Kota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kota – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $23.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $367 in Kota versus $763 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kota but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Kota the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mumbai (Bombay) and Kota?
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 Kota?
Expats usually find Kota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% 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