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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $779 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $319 in Malappuram, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,255 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $492 in Malappuram, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,732 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $665 in Malappuram, rent included.

Mumbai (Bombay) costs about 144% more than Malappuram, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mumbai (Bombay) and Malappuram are more affordable than the global median – Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower, Malappuram 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 ₹506

$1.79 ₹170

197.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.40 ₹2,133

$8.26 ₹787

171.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 ₹441

$3.69 ₹351

25.47%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₹240

$1.53 ₹146

64.71%

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

$0.51 ₹48.25

$0.37 ₹35.40

37.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₹14.64

$0.11 ₹10.48

36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 ₹217

$1.44 ₹137

58.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 ₹376

$2.65 ₹253

49.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 ₹71.1

$0.57 ₹54.6

31.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 ₹48.81

$0.50 ₹47.98

2.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 ₹73.7

$0.46 ₹43.54

67.39%

Eggs

$1.08 ₹103

$0.82 ₹78.3

31.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.14 ₹680

$4.23 ₹403

68.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 ₹370

$2.88 ₹274

34.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 ₹219

$1.85 ₹176

24.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹77.3

$0.63 ₹60.0

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ₹120

$0.85 ₹81.1

48.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ₹60.7

$0.32 ₹30.13

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₹54.8

$0.43 ₹41.42

34.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ₹60.1

$0.36 ₹33.82

75.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ₹61.0

$0.96 ₹91.3

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₹31.00

$0.31 ₹29.52

6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ₹400

$2.50 ₹238

68.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.25 ₹786

$1.72 ₹164

379.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₹207

$1.60 ₹152

35.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 ₹324

$4.23 ₹403

-19.62%

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

$7.03 ₹670

$3.72 ₹355

88.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₹22.97

$0.15 ₹13.89

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.51 ₹430

$4.56 ₹435

-1.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 ₹34.87

$0.49 ₹46.36

-24.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ₹31.18

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ₹135

$0.60 ₹57.2

135.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₹113

$1.22 ₹117

-2.46%

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

$17.4K ₹1.7M

$11.6K ₹1.1M

49.72%

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

$24.5K ₹2.3M

$18.0K ₹1.7M

36.50%

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

$50.8 ₹4,838

$32.60 ₹3,105

55.80%

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

$4.81 ₹458

$2.96 ₹282

62.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.75 ₹834

$7.15 ₹681

22.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.11 ₹2,201

$7.06 ₹673

227.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.99 ₹1,142

$4.52 ₹430

165.27%

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 ₹448

$1.99 ₹190

136.68%

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

$122 ₹11.6K

$32.45 ₹3,091

274.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,393 ₹323.2K

$932 ₹88.8K

264.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.14 ₹2,776

$15.02 ₹1,431

94.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.61 ₹2,916

$21.29 ₹2,028

43.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.2 ₹5,253

$25.87 ₹2,464

113.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.74 ₹3,786

$15.08 ₹1,436

163.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₹67.1K

$116 ₹11.0K

508.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 ₹34.0K

$69.6 ₹6,631

412.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,792 ₹170.7K

$197 ₹18.8K

807.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$825 ₹78.6K

$141 ₹13.4K

486.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,436 ₹613.1K

$6,388 ₹608.5K

0.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,627 ₹250.2K

$368 ₹35.0K

614.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 ₹70.9K

$213 ₹20.3K

248.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.22

7.69

19.90%

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

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

Last update for Malappuram: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $705 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $116 in Malappuram. 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 249% 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 $8.00 in Malappuram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $129 vs $90.0 – making Malappuram 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 Malappuram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mumbai (Bombay) is pricier by about 144%, 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 $479 in Malappuram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 1% less in Malappuram. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $122 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) and $32.45 in Malappuram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malappuram, where all-in costs run around $319, than in Mumbai (Bombay) at $779. In Malappuram it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mumbai (Bombay) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Malappuram – 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 Malappuram. 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.