Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Vellore

For one person, living is cheaper in Vellore: $259 a month against $782 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mumbai (Bombay)
🇮🇳 India
$782
/mo nomad
Vellore
🇮🇳 India
$259
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Vellore

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Vellore actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $782 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $259 in Vellore.

  • Mumbai (Bombay) $782
  • Vellore $259

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,299 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $447 in Vellore.

  • Mumbai (Bombay) $1,299
  • Vellore $447

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,816 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $636 in Vellore.

  • Mumbai (Bombay) $1,816
  • Vellore $636

Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 202% more expensive than in Vellore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower, Vellore 81% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Vellore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.38 ₹511
$1.28 ₹122
320.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.76 ₹1,971
$6.99 ₹664
197.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.19 ₹398
$2.08 ₹197
101.44%
Cappuccino
$2.74 ₹260
$2.01 ₹191
36.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₹38.77
$0.36 ₹34.03
13.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ₹15.04
$0.14 ₹13.16
14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ₹246
$1.54 ₹146
68.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 ₹396
$3.05 ₹290
36.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Vellore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 ₹71.2
$0.48 ₹45.41
56.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 ₹50.5
$0.55 ₹52.2
-3.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ₹69.6
$0.60 ₹57.0
21.67%
Eggs
$0.96 ₹91.4
$0.78 ₹73.8
23.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.52 ₹524
$1.93 ₹184
186.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.58 ₹340
$2.31 ₹219
54.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 ₹203
$1.60 ₹152
33.75%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 ₹65.5
$0.72 ₹68.3
-4.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.23 ₹116
$0.89 ₹84.8
38.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.46 ₹43.77
$0.29 ₹27.89
58.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 ₹34.24
$0.30 ₹28.15
20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.12
$0.38 ₹36.22
2.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 ₹38.05
$0.30 ₹28.04
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.46
$0.26 ₹24.49
19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10 ₹485
$1.60 ₹152
218.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.12 ₹771
$3.83 ₹364
112.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₹185
$1.63 ₹155
19.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ₹302
$2.56 ₹243
24.22%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.17 ₹586
$4.98 ₹473
23.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Vellore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₹18.99
$0.24 ₹22.86
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.39 ₹512
$5.09 ₹484
5.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 ₹29.39
$0.45 ₹42.48
-31.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ₹28.01
$0.30 ₹28.49
-3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 ₹151
$1.06 ₹100
50.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₹104
$1.10 ₹104
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.9K ₹1.5M
$9,959 ₹945.7K
59.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K ₹2.2M
$14.7K ₹1.4M
54.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Vellore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.6 ₹5,846
$30.22 ₹2,869
103.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25 ₹404
$4.15 ₹394
2.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.01 ₹855
$4.18 ₹397
115.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Vellore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.24 ₹2,587
$8.39 ₹796
224.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.31 ₹1,264
$4.79 ₹454
177.87%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 ₹416
$2.43 ₹231
80.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Vellore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 ₹11.0K
$48.80 ₹4,634
136.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,968 ₹471.7K
$1,394 ₹132.4K
256.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Vellore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.16 ₹3,529
$8.47 ₹805
338.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.88 ₹3,787
$19.02 ₹1,806
109.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.9 ₹5,307
$21.40 ₹2,033
161.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.19 ₹4,576
$25.27 ₹2,399
90.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Vellore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$611 ₹58.0K
$57.1 ₹5,421
970.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 ₹33.6K
$31.86 ₹3,026
1011.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 ₹173.7K
$169 ₹16.1K
980.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$877 ₹83.3K
$160 ₹15.1K
449.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,877 ₹558.0K
$1,099 ₹104.3K
434.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,448 ₹232.4K
$678 ₹64.4K
261.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Vellore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 ₹72.0K
$310 ₹29.4K
144.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.29
6.5
27.54%

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

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): October 12, 2026

Last update for Vellore: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
$354
Vellore
$32 91% $322
Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
$116
Vellore
$77 33.1% $38
Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
$112
Vellore
$56 49.7% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
$82
Vellore
$33 59.1% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
$75
Vellore
$39 48.5% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
$36
Vellore
$13 63.2% $23
Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
$8
Vellore
$8 0.3% $0

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $611 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $57.1 in Vellore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mumbai (Bombay) pays 145% 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 $7.00 in Vellore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $77.0 per month, with Vellore cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Mumbai (Bombay)
🇮🇳 Vellore
🕒 Local time
21:23 9:23 PM
21:23 9:23 PM
Same time as Mumbai (Bombay)
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,442,373
186,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mumbai (Bombay) Vellore 960 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mumbai (Bombay)
  • Vellore

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Vellore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mumbai (Bombay) and in Vellore?
Mumbai (Bombay) and Vellore differ by about 202% in total monthly costs ($782 vs $259 including rent). Vellore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mumbai (Bombay) or Vellore?
Average pay runs 145% 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 Vellore?
Rent for a central apartment: $611 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $57.1 in Vellore. 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 50% 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 Vellore – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $21.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,000 go in Mumbai (Bombay) compared to Vellore?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Vellore gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Mumbai (Bombay) and Vellore?
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.
Where should expats move: Mumbai (Bombay) or Vellore?
Expats usually find Vellore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 202% 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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