Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Ratlam Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Ratlam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $781 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $352 in Ratlam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,281 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $514 in Ratlam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,781 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $676 in Ratlam.

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 122% more expensive than Ratlam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower, Ratlam 74% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.13 ₹489
$1.94 ₹185
164.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.35 ₹2,129
$7.06 ₹673
216.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.69 ₹446
$2.90 ₹276
61.72%
Cappuccino
$2.65 ₹252
$1.58 ₹150
67.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₹44.63
$0.33 ₹31.87
42.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.22
$0.17 ₹16.15
11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 ₹217
$2.28 ₹217
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12 ₹392
$5.15 ₹491
-20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 ₹70.3
$0.60 ₹57.3
23.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.63
$0.45 ₹42.86
15.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 ₹79.6
$0.66 ₹63.1
27.27%
Eggs
$1.07 ₹102
$0.88 ₹83.9
21.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.05 ₹672
$4.73 ₹451
49.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.93 ₹375
$2.39 ₹227
64.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 ₹223
$2.33 ₹222
0.43%
Banana (1kg)
$0.77 ₹73.2
$0.45 ₹43.21
71.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 ₹125
$0.97 ₹92.1
35.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 ₹60.7
$0.82 ₹78.3
-21.95%
Potato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.1
$0.17 ₹16.55
211.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₹59.8
$0.22 ₹20.95
186.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 ₹65.8
$0.54 ₹51.1
27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₹33.52
$0.36 ₹34.74
-2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 ₹396
$3.39 ₹323
22.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.59 ₹819
$7.87 ₹750
9.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 ₹204
$1.52 ₹145
40.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₹309
$2.13 ₹203
52.11%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$7.22 ₹688
$5.74 ₹547
25.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₹23.00
$0.30 ₹28.96
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.73 ₹451
$8.67 ₹826
-45.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 ₹34.97
$0.69 ₹66.0
-46.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ₹136
$1.48 ₹141
-3.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₹117
$1.20 ₹114
1.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K ₹1.7M
$15.4K ₹1.5M
12.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K ₹2.4M
$20.2K ₹1.9M
25.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.2 ₹4,873
$28.65 ₹2,729
78.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.03 ₹479
$3.88 ₹369
29.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.65 ₹824
$5.70 ₹543
51.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.99 ₹2,190
$5.86 ₹558
292.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.83 ₹1,127
$6.82 ₹650
73.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.53 ₹432
$3.58 ₹341
26.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$121 ₹11.6K
$63.4 ₹6,041
91.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,356 ₹319.7K
$1,084 ₹103.3K
209.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.19 ₹2,781
$8.24 ₹785
254.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.76 ₹2,930
$9.07 ₹864
239.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.6 ₹5,394
$17.56 ₹1,672
222.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.02 ₹3,907
$29.53 ₹2,813
38.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$695 ₹66.2K
$134 ₹12.8K
417.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$350 ₹33.3K
$92.0 ₹8,761
280.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,778 ₹169.4K
$174 ₹16.6K
920.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$835 ₹79.5K
$148 ₹14.1K
465.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,331 ₹603.1K
$2,270 ₹216.2K
178.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,639 ₹251.4K
$669 ₹63.7K
294.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ratlam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$737 ₹70.2K
$386 ₹36.7K
91.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.22
9.1
1.32%

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

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

Last update for Ratlam: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $695 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $134 in Ratlam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mumbai (Bombay) pays 91% 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: $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $7.00 in Ratlam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $130 vs $100 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 Ratlam?
Mumbai (Bombay) and Ratlam differ by about 122% in total monthly costs ($781 vs $352 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?
Mumbai (Bombay) pays 91% more on average, 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 Ratlam?
Rent for a central apartment: $695 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $134 in Ratlam. 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 30% 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 Ratlam – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $22.00 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 $352 in Ratlam versus $781 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 122% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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