Cost of Living Comparison Between Sierra Leone and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Sierra Leone and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,970 in Sierra Leone versus $389 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,723 in Sierra Leone versus $618 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,475 in Sierra Leone versus $846 in India.

Living in Sierra Leone is roughly 406% more expensive than India on average.

Sierra Leone (47% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Sierra Leone: monthly costs span $1,970 to $1,970, compared to $267$883 in India. City choice carries more weight in Sierra Leone.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.96 SLL 67.3K
$2.62 ₹249
12.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.79 SLL 744.5K
$13.81 ₹1,313
137.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 SLL 224.7K
$4.03 ₹383
145.41%
Cappuccino
$1.71 SLL 38.8K
$1.81 ₹173
-5.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 SLL 22.0K
$0.44 ₹41.73
120.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 SLL 18.0K
$0.19 ₹18.21
315.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 SLL 34.5K
$1.93 ₹183
-21.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 SLL 63.2K
$3.41 ₹324
-18.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.47 SLL 56.0K
$0.71 ₹67.6
247.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.69 SLL 15.8K
$0.52 ₹49.46
32.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 SLL 30.6K
$0.67 ₹63.8
101.49%
Eggs
$2.06 SLL 46.8K
$1.00 ₹95.0
106.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.21 SLL 163.6K
$5.44 ₹517
32.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.46 SLL 169.4K
$3.22 ₹307
131.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.38 SLL 122.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.95 SLL 89.7K
$2.16 ₹206
82.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 SLL 44.8K
$0.70 ₹66.6
181.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 SLL 16.5K
$1.05 ₹99.6
-30.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 SLL 113.9K
$0.54 ₹51.0
827.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 SLL 46.8K
$0.43 ₹40.49
379.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 SLL 37.6K
$0.49 ₹46.19
238.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 SLL 22.4K
$0.55 ₹52.0
78.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 SLL 32.3K
$0.35 ₹33.40
305.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87 SLL 42.5K
$3.97 ₹377
-52.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.57 SLL 172.0K
$7.49 ₹712
1.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SLL 32.7K
$1.91 ₹182
-24.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SLL 48.0K
$2.92 ₹278
-27.40%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.89 ₹560
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 SLL 10.7K
$0.33 ₹31.64
42.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.82 ₹934
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 SLL 16.6K
$0.91 ₹86.5
-19.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 SLL 29.0K
$0.28 ₹26.23
357.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 SLL 111.6K
$1.76 ₹167
178.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 SLL 30.7K
$1.22 ₹116
10.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.2K SLL 276.9M
$13.8K ₹1.3M
-11.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K SLL 559.4M
$22.8K ₹2.2M
8.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 SLL 3.3M
$40.60 ₹3,862
255.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.83 SLL 404.9K
$3.90 ₹370
357.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.7 SLL 1.7M
$8.00 ₹761
846.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 SLL 1.2M
$15.96 ₹1,518
219.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.79 ₹741
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.58 ₹340
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$69.7 ₹6,628
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$1,809 ₹172.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.90 SLL 224.8K
$25.66 ₹2,440
-61.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.97 SLL 181.0K
$27.13 ₹2,580
-70.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$20.39 SLL 462.9K
$46.37 ₹4,410
-56.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.29 SLL 1.1M
$32.55 ₹3,095
51.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$808 SLL 18.3M
$175 ₹16.6K
361.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,250 SLL 28.4M
$114 ₹10.8K
996.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,093 SLL 47.5M
$401 ₹38.1K
422.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$98.3 SLL 2.2M
$259 ₹24.6K
-62.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,106 SLL 25.1M
$1,220 ₹116.1K
-9.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,098 SLL 24.9M
$629 ₹59.8K
74.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,319 SLL 29.9M
$428 ₹40.7K
208.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
9.02
-

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

Last update for Sierra Leone: June 9, 2026

Last update for India: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $832 in Sierra Leone, $126 in India. Capital cities: $832 in Freetown vs $236 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $1,327 in Sierra Leone, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 560% higher in Sierra Leone.

Dining out costs 191% more in Sierra Leone.

Salaries are 233% higher in Sierra Leone, giving India stronger purchasing power.

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
Sierra Leone vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Sierra Leone?
At $575 per month in India and $1,970 in Sierra Leone, there's a 243% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Sierra Leone beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Sierra Leone?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Sierra Leone, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Sierra Leone?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Sierra Leone may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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