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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $783 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $406 in Malda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,280 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $577 in Malda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $749 in Malda.

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 93% more expensive than in Malda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 43% lower, Malda 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.10 ₹489
$1.01 ₹96.9
404.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.90 ₹2,005
$15.80 ₹1,516
32.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.18 ₹401
$4.24 ₹406
-1.42%
Cappuccino
$2.61 ₹251
$1.59 ₹152
64.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₹36.00
$0.44 ₹41.76
-13.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 ₹13.11
$0.14 ₹13.54
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 ₹247
$1.89 ₹182
35.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 ₹410
$3.15 ₹302
35.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 ₹67.2
$0.65 ₹62.3
7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹50.2
$0.43 ₹41.24
20.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 ₹74.5
$0.50 ₹47.99
56.00%
Eggs
$0.96 ₹91.7
$0.78 ₹74.6
23.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.52 ₹530
$5.49 ₹527
0.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.57 ₹343
$2.27 ₹218
57.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 ₹218
$2.45 ₹235
-6.94%
Banana (1kg)
$0.74 ₹71.0
$0.82 ₹79.1
-9.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 ₹117
$1.47 ₹141
-17.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 ₹45.18
$0.54 ₹51.7
-12.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 ₹31.97
$0.20 ₹19.16
65.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₹35.32
$0.38 ₹36.37
-2.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 ₹41.03
$0.30 ₹28.46
43.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.91
$0.14 ₹13.49
121.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.03 ₹483
$5.09 ₹488
-1.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.27 ₹794
$10.22 ₹981
-19.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 ₹195
$1.69 ₹162
20.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 ₹296
$2.66 ₹255
16.17%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.81 ₹557
$2.14 ₹205
171.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₹19.16
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.57 ₹534
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 ₹30.87
$0.64 ₹61.6
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₹31.21
$0.32 ₹30.79
3.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 ₹152
$1.55 ₹149
2.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₹109
$1.12 ₹107
0.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.9K ₹1.5M
$14.2K ₹1.4M
11.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ₹2.1M
$21.1K ₹2.0M
5.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.9 ₹5,839
$56.1 ₹5,384
8.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.28 ₹410
$3.18 ₹305
34.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.27 ₹890
$4.19 ₹402
121.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.11 ₹2,505
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.92 ₹1,240
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.81 ₹462
$3.70 ₹355
30.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 ₹11.4K
$38.83 ₹3,725
205.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,909 ₹471.0K
$1,979 ₹189.8K
148.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.15 ₹3,373
$5.31 ₹510
561.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.23 ₹3,763
$22.17 ₹2,127
76.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.7 ₹5,540
$32.81 ₹3,148
75.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.14 ₹4,618
$27.02 ₹2,592
78.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$635 ₹60.9K
$162 ₹15.5K
292.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 ₹34.1K
$124 ₹11.9K
185.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,933 ₹185.5K
$280 ₹26.9K
589.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$835 ₹80.1K
$155 ₹14.9K
438.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,093 ₹584.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,473 ₹237.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$754 ₹72.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
9.27
-10.14%

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

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

Last update for Malda: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $635 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $162 in Malda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $16.00 in Malda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $108 per month, with Malda 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 Malda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malda cheaper than Mumbai (Bombay)?
Malda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,174 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $608 in Malda to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mumbai (Bombay) and Malda?
Rent for a central apartment: $635 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $162 in Malda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Malda?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Malda?
All in, you'll spend $783 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $406 in Malda – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mumbai (Bombay) or in Malda?
At $406 in Malda versus $783 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Malda but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Malda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mumbai (Bombay) or Malda more family-friendly?
For families, Malda is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mumbai (Bombay), and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Malda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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