Cost of Living Comparison Between Shillong and Kanpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Shillong and Kanpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Shillong versus $341 in Kanpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $645 in Shillong versus $542 in Kanpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $884 in Shillong versus $743 in Kanpur.

Living in Shillong is roughly 19% more expensive than in Kanpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shillong 70% lower, Kanpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.91 ₹277

$2.08 ₹198

39.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.38 ₹1,080

$9.24 ₹877

23.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 ₹452

$3.21 ₹305

48.29%

Cappuccino

$1.60 ₹152

$1.51 ₹144

5.96%

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

$0.44 ₹41.45

$0.30 ₹28.11

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ₹16.40

$0.11 ₹10.90

54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ₹118

$1.29 ₹122

-3.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₹319

$2.67 ₹254

26.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 ₹62.5

$0.68 ₹64.9

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.35 ₹32.82

$0.45 ₹42.68

-22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.60 ₹56.8

$0.76 ₹71.9

-21.05%

Eggs

$0.92 ₹87.5

$0.85 ₹80.9

8.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.01 ₹381

$3.65 ₹346

9.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.42 ₹229

$2.46 ₹233

-1.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 ₹201

$1.54 ₹147

37.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 ₹62.5

$0.65 ₹61.7

1.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 ₹85.2

$0.98 ₹93.2

-8.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 ₹52.3

$0.53 ₹50.3

3.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 ₹31.44

$0.26 ₹24.91

26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₹35.80

$0.38 ₹36.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.20 ₹18.98

$0.51 ₹48.82

-60.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₹23.57

$0.28 ₹26.21

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 ₹472

$4.51 ₹428

10.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.59 ₹436

$7.43 ₹705

-38.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₹117

$1.63 ₹155

-23.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₹189

$2.47 ₹235

-19.43%

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

$4.93 ₹468

$6.20 ₹588

-20.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ₹40.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.17 ₹586

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₹65.0

$0.70 ₹66.4

-2.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.87

$0.26 ₹24.68

15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₹123

$1.07 ₹102

21.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ₹98.2

$1.11 ₹105

-7.21%

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

$12.6K ₹1.2M

$9,289 ₹881.9K

35.32%

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

$16.2K ₹1.5M

$19.8K ₹1.9M

-18.09%

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

$34.28 ₹3,255

$42.20 ₹4,006

-18.77%

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

$3.18 ₹302

$3.16 ₹300

0.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.17 ₹585

$5.42 ₹514

13.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.12 ₹961

$13.14 ₹1,247

-22.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 ₹503

$6.48 ₹615

-18.21%

Cinema Ticket

$3.08 ₹293

$3.07 ₹292

0.33%

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

$27.60 ₹2,620

$48.19 ₹4,575

-42.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,168 ₹110.8K

$6,318 ₹599.8K

-81.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.42 ₹1,654

$25.02 ₹2,375

-30.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.65 ₹2,055

$28.89 ₹2,743

-25.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.08 ₹3,521

$36.92 ₹3,505

0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.72 ₹2,632

$15.95 ₹1,514

73.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 ₹20.2K

$106 ₹10.1K

99.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 ₹12.7K

$57.7 ₹5,481

131.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ₹69.3K

$315 ₹29.9K

131.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 ₹27.0K

$157 ₹14.9K

81.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,159 ₹110.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$503 ₹47.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$451 ₹42.8K

$300 ₹28.5K

50.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

8.64

-14.58%

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

Last update for Shillong: August 30, 2026

Last update for Kanpur: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Shillong and $106 in Kanpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shillong pays 50% 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: $11.00 in Shillong vs $9.00 in Kanpur. Groceries flip the comparison at $86.0 vs $94.0, with Shillong cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kanpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kanpur is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Shillong, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $213 in Shillong versus $106 in Kanpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $27.60 in Shillong versus $48.19 in Kanpur. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kanpur – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $11.00 in Shillong. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kanpur gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Kanpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Shillong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.