For one person, living is cheaper in Shimla: $310 a month against $320 in Rajshahi, rent and utilities included – about $120 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Rajshahi outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Shimla and in Rajshahi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $310 per month in Shimla vs $320 in Rajshahi, rent included.
Shimla $310
Rajshahi $320
A couple spends around $504 per month in Shimla vs $505 in Rajshahi, rent included.
Shimla $504
Rajshahi $505
A family of three spends $698 per month in Shimla vs $690 in Rajshahi, rent included.
Shimla $698
Rajshahi $690
🙂
Shimla is about 3% cheaper than Rajshahi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Shimla and Rajshahi are more affordable than the global median – Shimla77% lower, Rajshahi76% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Shimla
Rajshahi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56₹149
$0.78৳96.6
100.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.47₹997
$7.92৳982
32.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.09₹295
$2.84৳352
8.80%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.78৳593
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.24৳277
-
Cappuccino
$0.92₹87.3
$1.31৳162
-29.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34₹32.20
$0.30৳36.68
13.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11₹10.42
$0.17৳20.48
-35.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.64₹156
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07₹197
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shimla
Rajshahi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.67₹64.2
$0.74৳91.3
-9.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42₹40.36
$0.63৳78.5
-33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63₹60.4
$0.63৳78.0
-
Eggs
$0.89₹85.1
$1.14৳141
-21.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33₹412
$9.02৳1,118
-52.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.18₹303
$3.22৳400
-1.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$6.38৳791
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.87₹178
$2.67৳331
-29.96%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76₹72.1
$0.92৳114
-17.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.63₹60.1
$2.44৳303
-74.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48₹45.51
$0.48৳59.7
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.30₹28.72
$0.25৳31.04
20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36₹34.35
$0.52৳64.4
-30.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.22₹20.99
$0.33৳41.35
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27₹25.62
$0.28৳34.42
-3.57%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$12.02৳1,491
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58৳196
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.08৳258
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38₹322
$3.15৳390
7.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.57₹816
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₹147
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04₹194
-
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$3.80₹362
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shimla
Rajshahi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22₹20.98
$0.08৳9.88
175.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.84₹747
$12.34৳1,531
-36.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07₹102
$1.19৳147
-10.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34₹31.93
$0.31৳38.26
9.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.02₹97.4
$1.00৳124
2.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₹104
$1.13৳140
-3.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,462₹805.8K
$29.3K৳3.6M
-71.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K₹1.7M
$32.8K৳4.1M
-44.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shimla
Rajshahi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$18.17₹1,730
$46.64৳5,785
-61.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.13₹298
$4.55৳565
-31.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.02₹669
$11.03৳1,368
-36.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shimla
Rajshahi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.85₹1,319
$6.03৳748
129.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.63₹1,012
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.07₹292
$4.10৳509
-25.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shimla
Rajshahi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$42.11₹4,010
$13.66৳1,694
208.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,173₹206.9K
$686৳85.1K
216.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shimla
Rajshahi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.76₹2,357
$6.84৳848
261.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.97₹2,092
$14.95৳1,854
46.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.31₹3,744
$25.49৳3,161
54.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.41₹2,515
$21.38৳2,652
23.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shimla
Rajshahi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$86.4₹8,222
$73.0৳9,055
18.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$53.3₹5,075
$44.86৳5,564
18.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199₹18.9K
$134৳16.7K
48.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$125₹11.9K
$97.0৳12.0K
28.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$563₹53.6K
$483৳59.9K
16.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$563₹53.6K
$2,258৳280.1K
-75.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shimla
Rajshahi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$612₹58.3K
$213৳26.4K
187.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.25
10.67
-22.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shimla: October 24, 2026
Last update for Rajshahi: 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
Shimla
$99 32.1%
Rajshahi
$121 37.6% ↑ 21.1%$21
🏠Accommodation & Living
Shimla
$53 17.2%
Rajshahi
$45 14% ↓ 15.8%$8.4
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Shimla
$51 16.3%
Rajshahi
$31 9.6% ↓ 39%$20
🍽Eating Out
Shimla
$47 15.1%
Rajshahi
$32 10.1% ↓ 31.2%$15
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shimla
$28 9.1%
Rajshahi
$62 19.4% ↑ 120%$34
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Shimla
$20 6.5%
Rajshahi
$14 4.4% ↓ 28.8%$5.7
🚌Getting Around
Shimla
$11 3.7%
Rajshahi
$15 4.8% ↑ 34.2%$3.9
🛒Groceries & Markets
Shimla
$214 30.6%
Rajshahi
$297 43% ↑ 38.9%$83
🏠Accommodation & Living
Shimla
$125 17.9%
Rajshahi
$97 14.1% ↓ 22.4%$28
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Shimla
$112 16.1%
Rajshahi
$69 10% ↓ 39%$44
🍽Eating Out
Shimla
$142 20.3%
Rajshahi
$102 14.8% ↓ 28.3%$40
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shimla
$31 4.5%
Rajshahi
$67 9.7% ↑ 112%$35
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Shimla
$51 7.3%
Rajshahi
$28 * 4.1% ↓ 43.7%$22
🚌Getting Around
Shimla
$23 3.4%
Rajshahi
$31 4.5% ↑ 32.3%$7.6
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $86 in Shimla versus $73 in Rajshahi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries in Shimla are about 2.9 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $10 in Shimla versus $8 in Rajshahi. Groceries tell a different story – $99 in Shimla vs $121 in Rajshahi – so Shimla wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Shimla→Rajshahi1,350 km≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
Shimla
Rajshahi
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
Shimla vs Rajshahi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shimla cheaper than Rajshahi?
Yes – Rajshahi is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $465 per month in Shimla and $481 in Rajshahi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rajshahi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $73 there versus $86 in Shimla.
How do food prices compare in Shimla and in Rajshahi?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Rajshahi, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Shimla or in Rajshahi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $10 in Shimla and $8 in Rajshahi. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,200 enough for either Shimla or Rajshahi?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $310 in Shimla and $320 in Rajshahi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Shimla or in Rajshahi?
It depends on your priorities. Rajshahi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $310 in Shimla to $320 in Rajshahi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Shimla or Rajshahi?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.