For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $574 in Saint Helena, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. The total is higher in Saint Helena despite lower rent and utilities.
How much you'll spend in Saint Helena and in India
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Saint Helena and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $574 in Saint Helena versus $399 in India.
Saint Helena $574
India $399
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,194 in Saint Helena versus $639 in India.
Saint Helena $1,194
India $639
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,814 in Saint Helena versus $879 in India.
Saint Helena $1,814
India $879
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $230 to $813, compared to $90–$500 in Saint Helena. City choice carries more weight in India.
🌍
Living in Saint Helena is roughly 44% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Saint Helena 58% lower, India 71% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Helena
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.85SHP 11.81
$2.14₹203
640.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.5SHP 48.80
$10.46₹993
525.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.08SHP 9.75
$3.80₹360
244.21%
Cappuccino
-
$1.68₹159
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21SHP 0.90
$0.38₹35.91
218.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02SHP 0.76
$0.15₹14.57
580.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.87₹177
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18₹302
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Helena
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$0.62₹59.1
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.00SHP 1.49
$0.50₹47.66
300.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$0.63₹60.2
-
Eggs
$5.39SHP 4.02
$0.96₹91.1
461.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$4.85₹460
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$2.84₹270
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.83SHP 8.08
-
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.00₹190
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$0.65₹61.3
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$0.97₹92.1
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$0.47₹44.20
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$0.34₹31.80
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$0.42₹39.64
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.47₹44.29
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30SHP 0.97
$0.31₹29.61
319.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.73SHP 8.74
$5.08₹482
130.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.67SHP 11.68
$7.31₹693
114.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63₹154
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.76₹262
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.11₹485
-
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Helena
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.26₹24.80
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.60SHP 29.52
$8.58₹814
361.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.00₹94.5
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.27₹25.68
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.54₹146
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.49SHP 1.86
$1.07₹102
132.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$11.2K₹1.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.1K₹1.9M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helena
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$37.08₹3,519
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$3.58₹340
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$218SHP 163
$7.15₹678
2955.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helena
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.68SHP 14.67
$15.00₹1,423
31.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.17₹680
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.20₹303
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Helena
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$58.8₹5,580
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$1,667₹158.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helena
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$23.03₹2,186
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.17₹2,294
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$41.20₹3,909
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$29.62₹2,810
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Helena
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$723SHP 539
$146₹13.9K
393.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$96.4₹9,144
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$343₹32.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515SHP 384
$234₹22.2K
120.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,177₹111.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$633₹60.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Helena
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$765SHP 570
$409₹38.8K
87.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
8.93
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Helena: October 27, 2026
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Saint Helena
–
India
$102 25.6%
🏠Accommodation & Living
Saint Helena
–
India
$96 24.1%
🍽Eating Out
Saint Helena
–
India
$67 16.7%
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helena
–
India
$53 13.3%
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helena
–
India
$48 12%
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helena
–
India
$21 5.4%
🚌Getting Around
Saint Helena
–
India
$12 3%
🛒Groceries & Markets
Saint Helena
–
India
$220 25.1%
🏠Accommodation & Living
Saint Helena
–
India
$234 26.6%
🍽Eating Out
Saint Helena
–
India
$181 20.6%
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helena
–
India
$118 13.4%
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helena
–
India
$51 5.9%
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helena
–
India
$50 5.7%
🚌Getting Around
Saint Helena
–
India
$24 2.8%
Cost Breakdown
💰National salary averages: $791 in Saint Helena, $412 in India. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 503% higher in Saint Helena.
⭐Dining out costs 500% more in Saint Helena.
⭐Public transport is 400% more expensive in Saint Helena.
⭐Salaries are 92% higher in Saint Helena, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Saint Helena.
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
Saint Helena vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Saint Helena?
At $399 per month in India and $574 in Saint Helena, India comes out about 30% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $723 in Saint Helena and $120 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to India or to Saint Helena?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.
Saint Helena vs other spots: cost of living compared