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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $781 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $378 in Varkala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,281 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $606 in Varkala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,781 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $834 in Varkala.

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 107% more expensive than Varkala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower, Varkala 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 ₹489

$2.31 ₹220

122.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.35 ₹2,131

$10.58 ₹1,009

111.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₹447

$3.46 ₹330

35.55%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₹253

$1.57 ₹150

68.79%

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

$0.47 ₹44.67

$0.41 ₹38.81

14.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ₹18.23

$0.16 ₹15.07

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 ₹217

$1.69 ₹161

34.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 ₹393

$3.02 ₹288

36.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 ₹70.4

$0.66 ₹62.7

12.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 ₹49.68

$0.45 ₹42.80

15.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₹79.7

$0.66 ₹62.9

27.27%

Eggs

$1.07 ₹102

$0.90 ₹85.7

18.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.05 ₹672

$4.86 ₹463

45.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ₹375

$3.03 ₹289

29.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 ₹223

$1.97 ₹188

18.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 ₹73.3

$0.69 ₹65.9

11.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 ₹125

$0.95 ₹90.2

37.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ₹60.8

$0.53 ₹50.9

20.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 ₹50.1

$0.38 ₹36.69

39.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ₹59.8

$0.46 ₹43.99

36.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ₹65.9

$0.49 ₹47.03

40.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₹33.55

$0.35 ₹32.99

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 ₹397

$3.94 ₹375

5.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.59 ₹819

$7.38 ₹704

16.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₹204

$1.79 ₹170

19.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₹309

$2.78 ₹265

16.55%

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

$7.22 ₹688

$5.58 ₹532

29.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₹23.02

$0.30 ₹28.94

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.73 ₹451

$8.83 ₹842

-46.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 ₹35.01

$0.84 ₹80.1

-55.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₹23.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ₹136

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₹117

$1.22 ₹116

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

$17.4K ₹1.7M

$13.9K ₹1.3M

24.69%

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

$25.4K ₹2.4M

$21.9K ₹2.1M

16.22%

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

$51.2 ₹4,877

$38.78 ₹3,697

31.90%

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

$5.03 ₹479

$3.55 ₹338

41.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.65 ₹825

$7.46 ₹711

15.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.99 ₹2,192

$16.09 ₹1,534

42.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.83 ₹1,128

$6.98 ₹666

69.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.53 ₹432

$2.97 ₹283

52.53%

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

$121 ₹11.6K

$52.3 ₹4,989

131.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,356 ₹320.0K

$1,561 ₹148.8K

114.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.19 ₹2,783

$24.20 ₹2,307

20.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.76 ₹2,933

$25.54 ₹2,435

20.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.6 ₹5,399

$42.00 ₹4,004

34.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.02 ₹3,911

$29.96 ₹2,856

36.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$695 ₹66.3K

$122 ₹11.7K

468.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₹33.4K

$77.7 ₹7,408

350.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,778 ₹169.6K

$274 ₹26.1K

548.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$835 ₹79.6K

$181 ₹17.3K

360.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,331 ₹603.6K

$1,043 ₹99.4K

507.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,639 ₹251.6K

$604 ₹57.6K

336.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$737 ₹70.2K

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): June 7, 2026

Last update for Varkala: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $695 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $122 in Varkala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $11.00 in Varkala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $130 vs $105 per month, with Varkala 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 Varkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mumbai (Bombay) and Varkala differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($781 vs $378 including rent). Varkala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,171 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $566 in Varkala 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: $695 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $122 in Varkala. 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 Varkala – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $378 in Varkala versus $781 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in Varkala but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Varkala 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 Varkala 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 Varkala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.