Cost of Living Comparison Between Shillong and Hyderabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Shillong and Hyderabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $449 per month in Shillong vs $524 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $696 per month in Shillong vs $855 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $944 per month in Shillong vs $1,187 in Hyderabad, rent included.

Shillong is about 14% cheaper than Hyderabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shillong and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Shillong 67% lower, Hyderabad 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shillong
Hyderabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39 ₹133
$3.52 ₹335
-60.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.66 ₹1,016
$17.38 ₹1,655
-38.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.56 ₹434
$5.22 ₹497
-12.64%
Cappuccino
$1.18 ₹112
$2.03 ₹193
-41.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹34.42
$0.42 ₹39.56
-14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12 ₹11.37
$0.19 ₹18.10
-36.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ₹136
$2.05 ₹195
-30.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 ₹313
$3.41 ₹325
-3.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shillong
Hyderabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.65 ₹61.9
$0.82 ₹78.4
-20.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.37 ₹34.80
$0.62 ₹58.9
-40.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.52 ₹49.58
$0.76 ₹72.7
-31.58%
Eggs
$0.85 ₹81.2
$0.98 ₹93.6
-13.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.41 ₹420
$6.21 ₹592
-28.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.32 ₹316
$3.81 ₹363
-12.86%
Apples (1kg)
$1.85 ₹176
$2.80 ₹267
-33.93%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 ₹71.9
$0.76 ₹72.0
-1.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 ₹87.6
$1.03 ₹98.3
-10.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 ₹57.3
$0.51 ₹48.19
17.65%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 ₹29.61
$0.46 ₹44.12
-32.61%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₹34.14
$0.52 ₹49.99
-30.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 ₹35.09
$0.66 ₹63.3
-43.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹15.80
$0.37 ₹35.00
-54.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 ₹389
$4.19 ₹399
-2.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.63 ₹441
$8.46 ₹806
-45.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₹146
$2.02 ₹192
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₹267
$2.96 ₹282
-5.07%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$4.21 ₹401
$6.42 ₹611
-34.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Shillong
Hyderabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₹28.77
$0.60 ₹57.0
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.88 ₹846
$15.39 ₹1,466
-42.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.76 ₹72.8
$1.17 ₹112
-35.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.33 ₹31.41
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₹141
$1.56 ₹148
-5.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₹110
$1.29 ₹123
-10.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$17.3K ₹1.6M
-19.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K ₹1.7M
$24.2K ₹2.3M
-25.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shillong
Hyderabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.75 ₹3,786
$39.20 ₹3,734
1.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.31 ₹315
$4.42 ₹421
-25.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.70 ₹543
$8.41 ₹801
-32.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shillong
Hyderabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$4.59 ₹437
$21.22 ₹2,021
-78.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.93 ₹565
$7.93 ₹755
-25.22%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98 ₹284
$3.98 ₹379
-25.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shillong
Hyderabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$32.18 ₹3,065
$116 ₹11.0K
-72.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,908 ₹181.7K
$2,589 ₹246.6K
-26.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shillong
Hyderabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.38 ₹2,418
$30.68 ₹2,923
-17.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.62 ₹3,393
$24.17 ₹2,302
47.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.79 ₹4,361
$49.28 ₹4,694
-7.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.26 ₹4,025
$37.37 ₹3,560
13.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shillong
Hyderabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 ₹24.2K
$239 ₹22.8K
6.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 ₹15.0K
$137 ₹13.1K
15.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 ₹44.4K
$627 ₹59.8K
-25.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 ₹30.4K
$336 ₹32.0K
-5.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,364 ₹129.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$753 ₹71.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shillong
Hyderabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$438 ₹41.7K
$1,182 ₹112.6K
-62.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.38
9.19
-19.70%

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

Last update for Shillong: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hyderabad: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $254 in Shillong versus $239 in Hyderabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 170% higher in Hyderabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Shillong versus $17.00 in Hyderabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $94.0 vs $127 – making Shillong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Shillong vs Hyderabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Shillong or Hyderabad?
Hyderabad costs about 17% more than Shillong, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Shillong vs Hyderabad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $673 per month in Shillong and $786 in Hyderabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Shillong or Hyderabad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shillong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Shillong vs Hyderabad?
Public transport costs about 73% less in Shillong. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Shillong and Hyderabad?
Kindergarten costs $32.18 per month in Shillong and $116 in Hyderabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Shillong or Hyderabad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $449 in Shillong and $524 in Hyderabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Shillong or Hyderabad?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shillong costs $449 versus $524 in Hyderabad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Shillong or Hyderabad?
If budget matters most, go with Shillong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hyderabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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