🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $352 in Ratlam versus $763 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $522 in Ratlam versus $1,248 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $691 in Ratlam versus $1,733 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Living in Ratlam costs roughly 54% less than in Mumbai (Bombay), driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ratlam74% lower, Mumbai (Bombay)43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ratlam
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96₹184
$5.20₹488
-62.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$6.80₹638
$22.16₹2,080
-69.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.95₹277
$4.54₹426
-35.02%
Cappuccino
$1.58₹148
$2.62₹246
-39.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₹33.99
$0.50₹47.34
-28.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13₹12.42
$0.15₹14.28
-13.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19₹206
$2.38₹224
-7.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30₹497
$3.97₹373
33.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ratlam
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹58.2
$0.78₹73.7
-20.51%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48₹45.09
$0.51₹48.23
-5.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72₹67.5
$0.81₹76.3
-11.11%
Eggs
$0.82₹77.0
$1.04₹97.2
-21.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.90₹460
$7.06₹663
-30.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.31₹217
$3.80₹356
-39.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36₹222
$2.31₹216
2.16%
Banana(1kg)
$0.45₹42.39
$0.76₹71.8
-40.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01₹94.8
$1.31₹123
-22.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80₹74.9
$0.66₹61.9
21.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.16₹14.95
$0.54₹50.5
-70.37%
Onion(1kg)
$0.22₹20.51
$0.60₹55.9
-63.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50₹46.76
$0.64₹60.3
-21.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34₹31.71
$0.35₹33.09
-2.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57₹335
$4.11₹386
-13.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.19₹487
$7.81₹733
-33.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₹151
$2.16₹202
-25.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24₹210
$3.26₹306
-31.29%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.64₹530
$6.95₹653
-18.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Ratlam
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₹26.01
$0.22₹20.54
27.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.62₹809
$4.75₹446
81.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70₹65.9
$0.33₹31.32
112.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₹140
$1.35₹127
10.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₹111
$1.24₹116
-4.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.3K₹1.4M
$17.8K₹1.7M
-13.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K₹1.9M
$24.6K₹2.3M
-19.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ratlam
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.76₹2,700
$50.8₹4,769
-43.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96₹371
$4.84₹454
-18.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.89₹553
$8.83₹829
-33.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ratlam
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$5.91₹555
$23.20₹2,177
-74.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.90₹648
$11.85₹1,112
-41.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42₹321
$4.75₹446
-28.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ratlam
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.3₹5,849
$118₹11.1K
-47.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,092₹102.5K
$3,350₹314.4K
-67.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ratlam
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.91₹743
$29.41₹2,760
-73.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.39₹881
$31.15₹2,924
-69.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$17.64₹1,656
$55.0₹5,158
-67.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.04₹2,726
$40.05₹3,759
-27.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ratlam
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$136₹12.7K
$691₹64.9K
-80.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$92.2₹8,655
$352₹33.1K
-73.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$175₹16.4K
$1,822₹171.0K
-90.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$144₹13.5K
$845₹79.3K
-83.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$969₹91.0K
$6,634₹622.6K
-85.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$517₹48.5K
$2,639₹247.7K
-80.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ratlam
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$401₹37.6K
$730₹68.5K
-45.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.1
9.22
-1.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ratlam: April 22, 2026
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $136 in Ratlam and $691 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mumbai (Bombay) pays 82% 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: $7 in Ratlam vs $22 in Mumbai (Bombay) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $96 vs $128 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
Ratlam vs Mumbai (Bombay): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ratlam and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Ratlam and Mumbai (Bombay) differ by about 117% in total monthly costs ($352 vs $763 including rent). Ratlam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mumbai (Bombay) earns 82% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ratlam and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Rent for a central apartment: $136 in Ratlam versus $691 in Mumbai (Bombay). 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 33% 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 $763 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 Ratlam and Mumbai (Bombay)?
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 Ratlam or Mumbai (Bombay) safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ratlam and Mumbai (Bombay) 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: Ratlam or Mumbai (Bombay)?
Expats usually find Ratlam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.