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: $755 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $382 in Varkala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,245 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $603 in Varkala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,735 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $823 in Varkala.

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 98% more expensive than in Varkala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 43% lower, Varkala 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 ₹511

$2.40 ₹232

120.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.98 ₹2,123

$10.54 ₹1,018

108.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₹444

$3.62 ₹349

27.07%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₹243

$1.53 ₹148

64.05%

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

$0.48 ₹46.18

$0.41 ₹39.25

17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₹14.25

$0.16 ₹15.85

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ₹228

$1.79 ₹173

31.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 ₹398

$3.10 ₹299

32.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 ₹75.0

$0.70 ₹67.4

11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 ₹46.79

$0.45 ₹43.29

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 ₹80.4

$0.68 ₹65.3

22.06%

Eggs

$1.04 ₹100

$0.91 ₹87.6

14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.03 ₹679

$5.06 ₹489

38.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 ₹369

$2.92 ₹282

30.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ₹231

$1.99 ₹192

20.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹78.6

$0.74 ₹71.1

9.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 ₹122

$1.01 ₹97.7

25.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 ₹63.5

$0.54 ₹51.8

22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 ₹55.5

$0.38 ₹36.80

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 ₹60.1

$0.43 ₹41.33

44.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ₹66.6

$0.48 ₹46.38

43.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₹33.86

$0.32 ₹30.48

9.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ₹400

$3.94 ₹380

5.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 ₹791

$7.40 ₹714

10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₹210

$1.76 ₹170

23.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 ₹331

$2.92 ₹282

17.12%

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

$6.90 ₹666

$5.55 ₹536

24.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₹23.22

$0.30 ₹28.97

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.53 ₹437

$8.69 ₹839

-47.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.33 ₹32.16

$0.78 ₹75.1

-57.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₹26.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ₹132

$1.42 ₹137

-4.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₹119

$1.21 ₹117

1.65%

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

$17.2K ₹1.7M

$13.7K ₹1.3M

25.97%

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

$24.5K ₹2.4M

$21.7K ₹2.1M

13.21%

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

$49.57 ₹4,786

$39.35 ₹3,799

25.97%

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

$4.84 ₹468

$3.56 ₹344

35.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.63 ₹834

$7.12 ₹687

21.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.66 ₹2,188

$16.16 ₹1,560

40.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.92 ₹1,151

$6.84 ₹660

74.27%

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 ₹461

$2.92 ₹282

63.70%

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

$119 ₹11.5K

$50.6 ₹4,885

134.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,308 ₹319.4K

$1,567 ₹151.3K

111.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.54 ₹2,852

$24.37 ₹2,353

21.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.45 ₹2,940

$24.84 ₹2,398

22.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.9 ₹5,304

$43.10 ₹4,161

27.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 ₹3,854

$30.83 ₹2,977

29.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$689 ₹66.5K

$126 ₹12.1K

448.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$360 ₹34.8K

$77.2 ₹7,457

366.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,796 ₹173.4K

$273 ₹26.4K

557.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$846 ₹81.7K

$182 ₹17.6K

365.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,201 ₹598.7K

$1,062 ₹102.6K

483.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,550 ₹246.2K

$612 ₹59.0K

316.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$768 ₹74.2K

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): July 20, 2026

Last update for Varkala: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $689 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $126 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 $106 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 98% in total monthly costs ($755 vs $382 including rent). Varkala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,132 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $573 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: $689 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $126 in Varkala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% 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 $382 in Varkala versus $755 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 98% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.