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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $332 in Shimla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,262 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $532 in Shimla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,757 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $732 in Shimla.

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 131% more expensive than in Shimla, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower, Shimla 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₹493

$1.77 ₹169

191.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.87 ₹2,092

$5.84 ₹558

274.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₹449

$3.51 ₹336

33.90%

Cappuccino

$2.63 ₹251

$1.00 ₹95.8

163.00%

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

$0.47 ₹45.40

$0.34 ₹32.55

38.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ₹17.78

$0.16 ₹15.75

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 ₹219

$1.58 ₹151

44.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 ₹399

$2.35 ₹225

77.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₹69.8

$0.73 ₹70.2

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 ₹45.93

$0.45 ₹42.92

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 ₹79.8

$0.62 ₹59.3

33.87%

Eggs

$1.05 ₹100

$0.92 ₹88.3

14.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.06 ₹675

$4.31 ₹412

63.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 ₹362

$3.59 ₹343

5.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₹221

$1.93 ₹184

19.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹77.3

$0.69 ₹66.0

17.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ₹121

$0.79 ₹76.0

59.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 ₹66.0

$0.56 ₹53.4

23.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 ₹50.1

$0.38 ₹36.11

36.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₹61.1

$0.43 ₹41.24

48.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₹65.5

$0.24 ₹22.99

183.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₹33.50

$0.37 ₹35.05

-5.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ₹395

$4.46 ₹427

-7.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.41 ₹804

$6.98 ₹667

20.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₹201

$1.78 ₹170

18.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 ₹328

$2.25 ₹215

52.44%

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

$6.96 ₹666

$5.68 ₹544

22.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₹23.03

$0.24 ₹23.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.52 ₹432

$8.93 ₹854

-49.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.33 ₹31.88

$0.83 ₹79.2

-60.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ₹136

$1.18 ₹113

21.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₹118

$1.18 ₹113

4.24%

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

$17.2K ₹1.6M

$15.1K ₹1.4M

13.92%

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

$24.7K ₹2.4M

$20.1K ₹1.9M

23.14%

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

$50.0 ₹4,786

$19.55 ₹1,870

155.96%

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

$4.84 ₹463

$3.54 ₹339

36.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.88 ₹849

$7.68 ₹735

15.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.13 ₹2,212

$14.43 ₹1,380

60.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.04 ₹1,151

$7.10 ₹679

69.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 ₹440

$3.46 ₹331

32.95%

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

$119 ₹11.4K

$45.25 ₹4,327

163.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,313 ₹316.9K

$2,380 ₹227.6K

39.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.89 ₹2,859

$33.95 ₹3,247

-11.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.14 ₹2,882

$28.04 ₹2,682

7.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.7 ₹5,327

$47.40 ₹4,533

17.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.93 ₹3,915

$29.42 ₹2,814

39.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$702 ₹67.1K

$96.7 ₹9,250

625.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 ₹34.6K

$58.7 ₹5,610

517.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,775 ₹169.8K

$225 ₹21.5K

690.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$845 ₹80.8K

$138 ₹13.2K

510.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,137 ₹586.9K

$980 ₹93.7K

526.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,570 ₹245.8K

$525 ₹50.3K

389.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 ₹73.4K

$554 ₹52.9K

38.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.22

8.25

11.76%

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

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): July 27, 2026

Last update for Shimla: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $702 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $96.7 in Shimla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mumbai (Bombay) pays 39% 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 $6.00 in Shimla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $129 vs $103 per month, with Shimla 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 Shimla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mumbai (Bombay) and Shimla differ by about 131% in total monthly costs ($766 vs $332 including rent). Shimla is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 39% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $702 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $96.7 in Shimla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Shimla – a meal for two runs $6.00 versus $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $332 in Shimla versus $766 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shimla but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Shimla 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 Shimla 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 Shimla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 131% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.