😐A single person spends $781 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $379 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,281 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $612 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,781 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $844 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐Mumbai (Bombay) costs about 106% more than Kozhikode, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Mumbai (Bombay) and Kozhikode are more affordable than the global median – Mumbai (Bombay)42% lower, Kozhikode72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.13₹488
$1.70₹162
201.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.35₹2,126
$11.83₹1,126
88.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.69₹446
$3.44₹327
36.34%
Cappuccino
$2.65₹252
$1.28₹121
107.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₹44.56
$0.40₹37.70
17.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹18.19
$0.14₹13.68
35.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28₹217
$1.52₹145
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12₹392
$2.29₹217
79.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74₹70.2
$0.67₹63.5
10.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52₹49.55
$0.49₹46.36
6.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84₹79.5
$0.54₹51.6
55.56%
Eggs
$1.07₹102
$0.84₹80.0
27.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.05₹671
$5.00₹476
41.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.93₹374
$2.59₹246
51.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34₹223
$2.13₹202
9.86%
Banana(1kg)
$0.77₹73.1
$0.65₹62.0
18.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31₹125
$1.13₹107
15.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64₹60.6
$0.52₹49.34
23.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.53₹50.0
$0.44₹41.66
20.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63₹59.7
$0.40₹38.40
57.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69₹65.7
$0.71₹67.2
-2.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹33.47
$0.25₹23.75
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16₹396
$4.59₹436
-9.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.59₹817
$5.07₹483
69.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14₹203
$2.03₹193
5.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₹309
$2.70₹256
20.00%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.22₹686
$3.89₹370
85.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹22.96
$0.12₹11.08
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.73₹450
$5.97₹568
-20.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37₹34.92
$0.89₹85.0
-58.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.26₹24.63
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.43₹136
$1.75₹167
-18.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₹116
$1.18₹112
3.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K₹1.7M
$11.8K₹1.1M
47.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K₹2.4M
$20.1K₹1.9M
26.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.2₹4,865
$43.13₹4,101
18.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.03₹478
$3.52₹335
42.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.65₹823
$6.43₹612
34.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.99₹2,186
$16.60₹1,578
38.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.83₹1,125
$5.95₹565
98.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.53₹431
$2.90₹276
56.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$121₹11.5K
$39.33₹3,740
208.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,356₹319.1K
$559₹53.1K
500.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.19₹2,776
$30.07₹2,859
-2.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.76₹2,925
$30.17₹2,869
1.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.6₹5,385
$55.0₹5,229
3.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.02₹3,901
$41.81₹3,976
-1.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$695₹66.1K
$95.2₹9,049
630.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$350₹33.3K
$72.7₹6,912
381.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,778₹169.1K
$275₹26.2K
545.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$835₹79.4K
$169₹16.1K
394.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,331₹602.1K
$895₹85.1K
607.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,639₹251.0K
$673₹64.0K
292.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$737₹70.1K
$189₹18.0K
289.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.22
7.62
21.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): June 7, 2026
Last update for Kozhikode: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $695 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $95.2 in Kozhikode. 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 289% 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 $12.00 in Kozhikode. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $100 – making Kozhikode 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 Kozhikode: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mumbai (Bombay) and Kozhikode compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $781 in Mumbai (Bombay), $379 in Kozhikode – roughly 106% apart. Mumbai (Bombay) costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mumbai (Bombay) compared to Kozhikode?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,171 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) and $569 in Kozhikode. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mumbai (Bombay) and Kozhikode?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kozhikode, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Mumbai (Bombay) and Kozhikode?
Public transport costs about 26% less in Kozhikode. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mumbai (Bombay) and Kozhikode?
Kindergarten costs $121 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) and $39.33 in Kozhikode. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kozhikode, where all-in costs run around $379, than in Mumbai (Bombay) at $781. In Kozhikode it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mumbai (Bombay) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mumbai (Bombay) and Kozhikode?
It depends on your priorities. Mumbai (Bombay) has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $379 in Kozhikode to $781 in Mumbai (Bombay). Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mumbai (Bombay) or Kozhikode safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Mumbai (Bombay) and Kozhikode?
If budget matters most, go with Kozhikode. 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.
Mumbai (Bombay) vs other spots: cost of living compared