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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $783 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $399 in Kozhikode, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,280 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $610 in Kozhikode, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,776 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $821 in Kozhikode, rent included.

Mumbai (Bombay) costs about 96% more than Kozhikode, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mumbai (Bombay) and Kozhikode are more affordable than the global median – Mumbai (Bombay) 43% lower, Kozhikode 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.10 ₹489
$1.60 ₹154
218.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.90 ₹2,005
$9.21 ₹883
126.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.18 ₹401
$3.18 ₹305
31.45%
Cappuccino
$2.61 ₹251
$1.37 ₹132
90.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₹36.00
$0.36 ₹34.72
5.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 ₹13.11
$0.12 ₹11.12
16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 ₹247
$1.43 ₹137
79.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 ₹410
$1.85 ₹178
130.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 ₹67.2
$0.60 ₹57.5
16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹50.2
$0.46 ₹43.78
13.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 ₹74.5
$0.49 ₹47.34
59.18%
Eggs
$0.96 ₹91.7
$0.80 ₹76.8
20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.52 ₹530
$3.55 ₹341
55.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.57 ₹343
$3.57 ₹343
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 ₹218
$2.05 ₹196
11.22%
Banana (1kg)
$0.74 ₹71.0
$0.61 ₹58.1
21.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 ₹117
$0.88 ₹84.8
38.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 ₹45.18
$0.49 ₹46.78
-4.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 ₹31.97
$0.35 ₹33.43
-5.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₹35.32
$0.40 ₹38.82
-7.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 ₹41.03
$0.58 ₹55.9
-25.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.91
$0.27 ₹25.98
14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.03 ₹483
$5.12 ₹492
-1.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.27 ₹794
$5.29 ₹507
56.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 ₹195
$1.99 ₹191
2.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 ₹296
$2.17 ₹208
42.40%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.81 ₹557
$3.44 ₹330
68.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₹19.16
$0.16 ₹15.16
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.57 ₹534
$5.32 ₹510
4.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 ₹30.87
$0.79 ₹75.9
-59.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₹31.21
$0.46 ₹44.12
-28.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 ₹152
$2.06 ₹197
-22.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₹109
$1.09 ₹105
3.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.9K ₹1.5M
$13.2K ₹1.3M
20.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ₹2.1M
$19.6K ₹1.9M
13.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.9 ₹5,839
$55.3 ₹5,301
10.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.28 ₹410
$2.97 ₹285
44.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.27 ₹890
$6.01 ₹577
54.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.11 ₹2,505
$19.87 ₹1,906
31.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.92 ₹1,240
$6.23 ₹598
107.38%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81 ₹462
$2.59 ₹248
85.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 ₹11.4K
$44.97 ₹4,315
163.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,909 ₹471.0K
$504 ₹48.3K
874.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.15 ₹3,373
$27.99 ₹2,685
25.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.23 ₹3,763
$27.69 ₹2,657
41.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.7 ₹5,540
$69.6 ₹6,679
-17.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.14 ₹4,618
$36.92 ₹3,542
30.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$635 ₹60.9K
$112 ₹10.8K
466.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 ₹34.1K
$76.4 ₹7,331
364.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,933 ₹185.5K
$311 ₹29.8K
521.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$835 ₹80.1K
$162 ₹15.6K
414.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,093 ₹584.5K
$894 ₹85.8K
581.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,473 ₹237.2K
$685 ₹65.7K
260.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kozhikode
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$754 ₹72.3K
$287 ₹27.6K
162.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
9.37
-11.10%

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

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): September 12, 2026

Last update for Kozhikode: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $635 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $112 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 162% 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 Kozhikode. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $96.0 – 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 in Kozhikode compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $783 in Mumbai (Bombay), $399 in Kozhikode – roughly 96% 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 $1,174 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) and $599 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 in Kozhikode?
Public transport costs about 5% 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 $118 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) and $44.97 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 $399, than in Mumbai (Bombay) at $783. 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 $399 in Kozhikode to $783 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.

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