Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and McLeod Ganj Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and McLeod Ganj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $781 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $383 in McLeod Ganj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,281 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $605 in McLeod Ganj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,781 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $826 in McLeod Ganj.

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 104% more expensive than McLeod Ganj, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower, McLeod Ganj 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 ₹488

$2.35 ₹223

118.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.35 ₹2,126

$10.59 ₹1,007

111.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₹446

$3.44 ₹327

36.34%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₹252

$1.51 ₹144

75.50%

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

$0.47 ₹44.56

$0.40 ₹38.15

17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ₹18.19

$0.17 ₹16.47

11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 ₹217

$1.78 ₹169

28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 ₹392

$3.10 ₹294

32.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 ₹70.2

$0.65 ₹62.2

13.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 ₹49.55

$0.49 ₹46.14

6.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₹79.5

$0.72 ₹68.4

16.67%

Eggs

$1.07 ₹102

$0.95 ₹90.1

12.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.05 ₹671

$5.12 ₹487

37.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ₹374

$2.89 ₹275

35.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 ₹223

$2.01 ₹191

16.42%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 ₹73.1

$0.73 ₹69.8

5.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 ₹125

$0.95 ₹90.8

37.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ₹60.6

$0.54 ₹51.1

18.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 ₹50.0

$0.35 ₹33.55

51.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ₹59.7

$0.46 ₹43.65

36.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ₹65.7

$0.46 ₹43.37

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₹33.47

$0.35 ₹32.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 ₹396

$3.97 ₹378

4.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.59 ₹817

$7.43 ₹707

15.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₹203

$1.71 ₹163

25.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₹309

$2.82 ₹268

14.89%

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

$7.22 ₹686

$5.52 ₹525

30.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₹22.96

$0.30 ₹28.95

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.73 ₹450

$8.70 ₹827

-45.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 ₹34.92

$0.82 ₹78.3

-54.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₹23.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ₹136

$1.46 ₹139

-2.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₹116

$1.16 ₹111

5.17%

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

$17.4K ₹1.7M

$13.9K ₹1.3M

25.30%

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

$25.4K ₹2.4M

$22.1K ₹2.1M

14.95%

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

$51.2 ₹4,865

$38.45 ₹3,657

33.03%

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

$5.03 ₹478

$3.49 ₹332

44.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.65 ₹823

$7.14 ₹679

21.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.99 ₹2,186

$16.22 ₹1,542

41.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.83 ₹1,125

$6.93 ₹659

70.71%

Cinema Ticket

$4.53 ₹431

$2.84 ₹270

59.51%

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

$121 ₹11.5K

$51.9 ₹4,938

133.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,356 ₹319.1K

$1,555 ₹147.9K

115.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.19 ₹2,776

$23.90 ₹2,273

22.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.76 ₹2,925

$25.05 ₹2,382

22.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.6 ₹5,385

$42.99 ₹4,088

31.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.02 ₹3,901

$30.13 ₹2,865

36.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$695 ₹66.1K

$122 ₹11.6K

471.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₹33.3K

$75.0 ₹7,131

366.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,778 ₹169.1K

$275 ₹26.2K

546.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$835 ₹79.4K

$181 ₹17.2K

360.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,331 ₹602.1K

$1,052 ₹100.1K

501.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,639 ₹251.0K

$611 ₹58.1K

331.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$737 ₹70.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.22

8.67

6.34%

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

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): June 7, 2026

Last update for McLeod Ganj: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $695 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $122 in McLeod Ganj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $11.00 in McLeod Ganj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $130 vs $106 per month, with McLeod Ganj 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 McLeod Ganj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mumbai (Bombay) and McLeod Ganj differ by about 104% in total monthly costs ($781 vs $383 including rent). McLeod Ganj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,171 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $574 in McLeod Ganj 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $695 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $122 in McLeod Ganj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in McLeod Ganj – 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.

All in, you'll spend $781 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $383 in McLeod Ganj – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $383 in McLeod Ganj versus $781 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in McLeod Ganj but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes McLeod Ganj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Mumbai (Bombay) and McLeod Ganj are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find McLeod Ganj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.