😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $786 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $323 in Ratlam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,295 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $472 in Ratlam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $621 in Ratlam.
🌍Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 143% more expensive than in Ratlam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay)43% lower, Ratlam77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16₹493
$2.12₹203
143.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.80₹1,987
$6.16₹589
237.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.30₹410
$2.70₹258
59.26%
Cappuccino
$2.65₹253
$1.49₹142
77.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₹35.56
$0.36₹33.95
2.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16₹15.27
$0.14₹13.00
14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₹258
$2.06₹196
31.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24₹405
$3.12₹298
35.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.70₹66.4
$0.63₹59.7
11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48₹46.29
$0.43₹41.37
11.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76₹72.8
$0.70₹66.5
8.57%
Eggs
$1.02₹97.7
$0.92₹88.2
10.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.75₹549
$5.10₹487
12.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.53₹337
$2.05₹196
72.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23₹213
$2.14₹204
4.21%
Banana(1kg)
$0.72₹69.0
$0.41₹39.10
75.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23₹117
$0.99₹95.1
24.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49₹46.68
$0.41₹38.88
19.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35₹33.36
$0.17₹16.38
105.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.40₹38.30
$0.22₹21.03
81.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49₹47.27
$0.22₹21.06
122.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹30.09
$0.33₹31.56
-6.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10₹487
$2.68₹256
90.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25₹788
$7.68₹734
7.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04₹195
$1.58₹151
29.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02₹288
$2.61₹249
15.71%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.22₹594
$5.46₹522
13.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20₹19.09
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.93₹567
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33₹31.57
$0.76₹73.0
-56.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₹31.67
$0.18₹17.03
83.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.63₹156
$1.30₹124
25.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₹109
$1.10₹105
3.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K₹1.6M
$21.4K₹2.0M
-23.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₹2.1M
$23.1K₹2.2M
-3.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.1₹5,739
$26.97₹2,576
122.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.37₹417
$4.32₹413
1.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.32₹890
$5.36₹512
73.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.53₹2,631
$5.38₹514
411.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.67₹1,306
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.62₹442
$3.19₹305
44.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118₹11.3K
$67.9₹6,484
74.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,970₹474.8K
$999₹95.4K
397.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.94₹3,338
$7.59₹725
360.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.94₹3,625
$8.68₹829
337.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.3₹5,758
$15.81₹1,510
281.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.94₹4,771
$26.69₹2,550
87.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$641₹61.2K
$123₹11.7K
421.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371₹35.4K
$83.7₹7,992
343.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,937₹185.0K
$158₹15.1K
1128.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$869₹83.0K
$130₹12.4K
568.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,174₹589.9K
$2,301₹219.8K
168.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,428₹232.0K
$682₹65.2K
255.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$810₹77.4K
$387₹36.9K
109.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.36
8.73
-4.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): September 7, 2026
Last update for Ratlam: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $641 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $123 in Ratlam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mumbai (Bombay) pays 110% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $6.00 in Ratlam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $96.0 per month, with Ratlam 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 Ratlam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Ratlam?
Mumbai (Bombay) and Ratlam differ by about 143% in total monthly costs ($786 vs $323 including rent). Ratlam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mumbai (Bombay) or Ratlam?
Average pay runs 110% higher in Mumbai (Bombay), which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Ratlam?
Rent for a central apartment: $641 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $123 in Ratlam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mumbai (Bombay) and Ratlam?
Childcare runs $118 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $67.9 in Ratlam. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ratlam – a meal for two runs $6.00 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 $2,000 per month?
At $323 in Ratlam versus $786 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ratlam but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Ratlam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mumbai (Bombay) and Ratlam?
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 Ratlam safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mumbai (Bombay) and Ratlam 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 Ratlam?
Expats usually find Ratlam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% 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