😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $532 in Malda.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,262 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $673 in Malda.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,757 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $813 in Malda.
🌍Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 44% more expensive than in Malda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay)42% lower, Malda60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16₹492
$3.22₹307
60.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.87₹2,086
$11.43₹1,091
91.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.70₹448
$3.50₹334
34.29%
Cappuccino
$2.63₹251
$1.88₹179
39.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₹45.27
$0.41₹39.04
14.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹17.73
$0.14₹13.50
35.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29₹218
$1.78₹170
28.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17₹398
$3.00₹286
39.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73₹69.6
$0.60₹57.1
21.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48₹45.80
$0.40₹37.80
20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83₹79.6
$0.49₹46.55
69.39%
Eggs
$1.05₹100.0
$0.76₹72.3
38.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.06₹673
$5.54₹528
27.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.79₹361
$2.61₹249
45.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31₹220
$2.47₹236
-6.48%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81₹77.1
$0.79₹75.7
2.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26₹120
$1.33₹126
-5.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69₹65.8
$0.64₹61.2
7.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52₹49.98
$0.30₹28.73
73.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₹61.0
$0.33₹31.78
93.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68₹65.3
$0.44₹42.08
54.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹33.41
$0.15₹14.23
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14₹394
$3.91₹373
5.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.41₹802
$9.00₹858
-6.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11₹201
$1.68₹160
25.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43₹328
$2.42₹231
41.74%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.96₹664
$2.46₹235
182.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹22.96
$0.28₹26.57
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.52₹431
$8.60₹821
-47.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33₹31.79
$0.59₹56.4
-44.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.28₹26.35
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.43₹136
$1.99₹190
-28.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₹118
$1.23₹117
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2K₹1.6M
$15.7K₹1.5M
9.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K₹2.4M
$22.4K₹2.1M
10.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.0₹4,773
$41.19₹3,928
21.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.84₹462
$3.83₹366
26.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.88₹847
$5.66₹540
56.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.13₹2,205
$15.80₹1,507
46.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.04₹1,148
$7.00₹667
72.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60₹439
$4.16₹397
10.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$119₹11.4K
$43.87₹4,184
171.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,313₹316.0K
$1,567₹149.4K
111.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.89₹2,851
$8.30₹791
260.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.14₹2,874
$8.29₹791
263.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.7₹5,312
$48.98₹4,672
13.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.93₹3,904
$9.28₹885
341.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$702₹67.0K
$296₹28.2K
137.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$362₹34.5K
$228₹21.8K
58.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,775₹169.3K
$399₹38.1K
344.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$845₹80.6K
$184₹17.5K
360.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,137₹585.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,570₹245.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Malda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$767₹73.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.22
9.9
-6.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): July 27, 2026
Last update for Malda: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $702 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $296 in Malda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $11.00 in Malda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $129 vs $107 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 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,149 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $798 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: $702 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $296 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 21% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Mumbai (Bombay) or in Malda?
Dining out is cheaper in Malda – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mumbai (Bombay) or in Malda?
At $532 in Malda versus $766 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 44% 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