😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $795 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $363 in Nagapattinam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,311 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $576 in Nagapattinam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,827 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $790 in Nagapattinam.
🌍Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 119% more expensive than in Nagapattinam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay)42% lower, Nagapattinam74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Nagapattinam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.30₹501
$2.07₹195
156.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.42₹2,023
$12.62₹1,193
69.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.29₹405
$4.18₹395
2.63%
Cappuccino
$2.61₹246
$1.80₹170
45.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41₹38.29
$0.37₹35.08
10.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14₹13.06
$0.17₹16.27
-17.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59₹245
$1.56₹148
66.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16₹393
$3.09₹292
34.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Nagapattinam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69₹65.7
$0.57₹53.5
21.05%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49₹46.06
$0.50₹47.68
-2.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.73₹68.9
$0.61₹57.4
19.67%
Eggs
$0.95₹89.6
$0.56₹52.9
69.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.69₹537
$6.12₹579
-7.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48₹329
$2.15₹203
61.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34₹222
$2.32₹220
0.86%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67₹63.4
$0.76₹72.3
-11.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20₹114
$1.06₹100
13.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.50₹47.21
$0.34₹31.69
47.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38₹35.57
$0.38₹36.22
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.40₹38.18
$0.42₹39.22
-4.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49₹46.17
$0.27₹25.65
81.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29₹27.01
$0.25₹23.57
16.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.98₹470
$4.91₹464
1.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.23₹777
$6.47₹611
27.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10₹199
$1.57₹148
33.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15₹298
$2.07₹196
52.17%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.95₹562
$4.79₹453
24.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Nagapattinam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20₹18.87
$0.23₹22.17
-13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.88₹556
$8.10₹765
-27.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31₹29.07
$1.08₹102
-71.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₹31.28
$0.36₹33.69
-8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.55₹146
$2.04₹193
-24.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10₹104
$1.09₹103
0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.2K₹1.5M
$15.2K₹1.4M
6.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K₹2.1M
$20.7K₹2.0M
9.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Nagapattinam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.1₹5,584
$38.74₹3,660
52.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.38₹414
$4.11₹388
6.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.34₹883
$7.93₹750
17.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Nagapattinam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.20₹2,570
$15.00₹1,417
81.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.11₹1,334
$5.60₹529
151.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.62₹437
$2.63₹249
75.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Nagapattinam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118₹11.1K
$94.2₹8,899
24.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,947₹467.4K
$2,204₹208.2K
124.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Nagapattinam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.63₹3,178
$20.59₹1,946
63.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.59₹3,646
$16.62₹1,570
132.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.8₹5,648
$35.27₹3,332
69.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.89₹4,619
$30.65₹2,895
59.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Nagapattinam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$652₹61.6K
$105₹9,943
519.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$356₹33.6K
$84.3₹7,966
322.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,907₹180.2K
$258₹24.3K
640.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$863₹81.5K
$169₹16.0K
409.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,242₹589.8K
$1,074₹101.5K
481.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,324₹219.5K
$503₹47.5K
362.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Nagapattinam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$804₹75.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.36
9.88
-15.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): August 30, 2026
Last update for Nagapattinam: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $652 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $105 in Nagapattinam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $13.00 in Nagapattinam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $98.0 per month, with Nagapattinam 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 Nagapattinam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Nagapattinam?
Mumbai (Bombay) and Nagapattinam differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($795 vs $363 including rent). Nagapattinam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mumbai (Bombay) compared to Nagapattinam?
You'd need roughly $1,192 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $544 in Nagapattinam 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Nagapattinam?
Rent for a central apartment: $652 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $105 in Nagapattinam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nagapattinam – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $21.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $363 in Nagapattinam versus $795 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nagapattinam but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Nagapattinam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mumbai (Bombay) and Nagapattinam?
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.
Is Mumbai (Bombay) or Nagapattinam safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mumbai (Bombay) and Nagapattinam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mumbai (Bombay) or Nagapattinam?
Expats usually find Nagapattinam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% 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