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: $759 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $390 in McLeod Ganj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,262 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $613 in McLeod Ganj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,766 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $835 in McLeod Ganj.

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 95% more expensive than McLeod Ganj, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 43% lower, McLeod Ganj 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 ₹503

$2.28 ₹216

132.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.21 ₹2,101

$10.29 ₹974

115.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.67 ₹442

$3.52 ₹333

32.67%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₹248

$1.53 ₹145

71.24%

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

$0.51 ₹47.87

$0.41 ₹38.57

24.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₹14.03

$0.15 ₹13.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 ₹215

$1.69 ₹160

34.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 ₹387

$3.02 ₹286

35.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 ₹75.4

$0.71 ₹67.3

12.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 ₹49.47

$0.48 ₹45.51

8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₹77.3

$0.67 ₹63.5

22.39%

Eggs

$1.09 ₹103

$0.95 ₹90.2

14.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.02 ₹664

$4.93 ₹467

42.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 ₹368

$2.93 ₹277

32.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ₹225

$1.98 ₹188

20.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 ₹76.0

$0.74 ₹69.7

8.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₹123

$1.02 ₹96.1

27.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 ₹61.5

$0.53 ₹50.5

22.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 ₹53.5

$0.39 ₹36.57

46.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ₹60.0

$0.42 ₹40.17

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ₹59.9

$0.45 ₹42.64

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₹30.89

$0.32 ₹29.86

3.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.00 ₹379

Wine (Bottle)

$8.07 ₹764

$7.17 ₹679

12.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₹204

$1.76 ₹167

22.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ₹321

$2.89 ₹274

17.30%

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

$7.13 ₹675

$5.53 ₹524

28.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₹22.74

$0.30 ₹28.40

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.63 ₹439

$8.57 ₹811

-45.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 ₹32.06

$0.84 ₹79.1

-59.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₹25.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.40 ₹133

$1.47 ₹139

-4.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₹116

$1.16 ₹109

5.17%

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

$17.3K ₹1.6M

$14.1K ₹1.3M

22.68%

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

$25.3K ₹2.4M

$21.9K ₹2.1M

15.36%

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

$50.2 ₹4,748

$38.53 ₹3,645

30.24%

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

$5.00 ₹473

$3.58 ₹338

39.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.79 ₹832

$7.14 ₹675

23.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.18 ₹2,193

$16.01 ₹1,514

44.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.81 ₹1,117

$7.13 ₹674

65.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.70 ₹445

$2.96 ₹280

58.78%

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

$121 ₹11.4K

$51.9 ₹4,913

132.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,385 ₹320.3K

$1,514 ₹143.2K

123.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.30 ₹2,772

$23.70 ₹2,242

23.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 ₹2,907

$24.70 ₹2,337

24.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.0 ₹5,207

$42.20 ₹3,993

30.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.51 ₹3,738

$30.13 ₹2,851

31.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$694 ₹65.7K

$122 ₹11.6K

467.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$359 ₹33.9K

$75.7 ₹7,158

374.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,797 ₹170.0K

$275 ₹26.0K

554.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$821 ₹77.7K

$184 ₹17.4K

347.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,515 ₹616.5K

$1,060 ₹100.3K

514.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,661 ₹251.8K

$597 ₹56.5K

345.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$719 ₹68.0K

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): April 26, 2026

Last update for McLeod Ganj: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $694 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 $10.00 in McLeod Ganj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $130 vs $105 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 95% in total monthly costs ($759 vs $390 including rent). McLeod Ganj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,139 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $585 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: $694 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 $10.00 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 $759 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $390 in McLeod Ganj – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $390 in McLeod Ganj versus $759 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 95% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.