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: $1,926 in Sierra Leone versus $389 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,681 in Sierra Leone versus $618 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,435 in Sierra Leone versus $846 in India.

Living in Sierra Leone is roughly 395% more expensive than India on average.

Sierra Leone (44% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Sierra Leone: monthly costs span $1,926 to $1,926, compared to $272$901 in India. City choice carries more weight in Sierra Leone.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05 SLL 75.2K
$2.53 ₹237
20.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.86 SLL 786.0K
$14.21 ₹1,334
124.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.98 SLL 246.3K
$4.03 ₹379
147.64%
Cappuccino
$1.70 SLL 41.9K
$1.81 ₹169
-6.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 SLL 22.2K
$0.43 ₹40.61
109.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 SLL 19.2K
$0.14 ₹13.59
457.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 SLL 37.4K
$2.03 ₹191
-25.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 SLL 69.3K
$3.56 ₹334
-21.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.44 SLL 60.3K
$0.73 ₹68.9
234.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 SLL 16.2K
$0.51 ₹48.31
29.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 SLL 33.8K
$0.71 ₹67.0
92.96%
Eggs
$2.03 SLL 50.0K
$0.92 ₹86.2
120.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.93 SLL 171.1K
$5.38 ₹505
28.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.60 SLL 187.6K
$3.15 ₹296
141.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.21 SLL 128.5K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.93 SLL 96.9K
$2.19 ₹205
79.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 SLL 48.7K
$0.76 ₹71.4
159.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 SLL 18.0K
$1.05 ₹98.9
-30.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.90 SLL 120.8K
$0.54 ₹50.3
807.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 SLL 48.5K
$0.39 ₹37.01
405.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 SLL 40.9K
$0.45 ₹42.44
268.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 SLL 25.0K
$0.55 ₹51.7
83.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 SLL 35.2K
$0.33 ₹30.72
333.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 SLL 48.4K
$4.12 ₹387
-52.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.77 SLL 191.6K
$7.51 ₹705
3.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SLL 36.3K
$1.87 ₹176
-21.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 SLL 52.5K
$3.01 ₹282
-29.24%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.74 ₹539
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 SLL 11.0K
$0.37 ₹34.39
21.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.64 ₹905
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 SLL 19.4K
$0.89 ₹83.9
-12.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 SLL 30.4K
$0.28 ₹26.14
339.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.95 SLL 122.2K
$1.70 ₹160
191.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 SLL 32.2K
$1.23 ₹115
6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.0K SLL 295.0M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
-13.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K SLL 613.7M
$22.3K ₹2.1M
11.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 SLL 3.5M
$39.60 ₹3,717
261.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.75 SLL 437.9K
$3.88 ₹364
357.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.4 SLL 1.8M
$7.76 ₹729
858.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.1 SLL 1.2M
$16.21 ₹1,521
209.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.67 ₹720
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.42 ₹321
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$70.4 ₹6,611
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$1,830 ₹171.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.95 SLL 245.5K
$25.48 ₹2,392
-60.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.23 SLL 203.0K
$26.46 ₹2,484
-68.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$19.69 SLL 485.8K
$45.74 ₹4,293
-56.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.1 SLL 1.2M
$33.10 ₹3,106
51.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$820 SLL 20.2M
$173 ₹16.2K
374.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,261 SLL 31.1M
$111 ₹10.5K
1030.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,087 SLL 51.5M
$409 ₹38.4K
410.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$101 SLL 2.5M
$255 ₹23.9K
-60.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,081 SLL 51.3M
$1,223 ₹114.8K
70.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,332 SLL 32.9M
$633 ₹59.4K
110.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sierra Leone
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,150 SLL 28.4M
$435 ₹40.8K
164.37%
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for India: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $817 in Sierra Leone, $127 in India. Capital cities: $817 in Freetown vs $234 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $1,138 in Sierra Leone, $404 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 543% higher in Sierra Leone.

Dining out costs 191% more in Sierra Leone.

Salaries are 182% 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 $587 per month in India and $1,926 in Sierra Leone, there's a 228% 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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