😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $888 in Surat versus $563 in Bangalore.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $942 in Surat versus $963 in Bangalore.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $996 in Surat versus $1,362 in Bangalore.
😐Living in Surat is roughly 58% more expensive than Bangalore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surat34% lower, Bangalore58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surat
Bangalore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.58₹341
$3.42₹326
4.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.41₹1,087
$17.49₹1,666
-34.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.42₹326
$4.09₹390
-16.38%
Cappuccino
$1.74₹166
$2.27₹216
-23.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₹37.82
$0.46₹43.53
-13.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20₹19.44
$0.16₹15.30
25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13₹298
$2.28₹217
37.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95₹377
$4.14₹395
-4.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surat
Bangalore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73₹69.6
$0.61₹57.7
19.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53₹50.3
$0.58₹55.7
-8.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67₹64.3
$0.86₹82.0
-22.09%
Eggs
$1.03₹98.0
$1.02₹96.9
0.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.13₹489
$7.69₹733
-33.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.11₹296
$3.70₹352
-15.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43₹137
$2.64₹251
-45.83%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64₹61.1
$0.81₹76.8
-20.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.95₹90.8
$1.13₹107
-15.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.61₹58.1
$0.44₹41.90
38.64%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36₹34.22
$0.51₹48.35
-29.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44₹41.69
$0.55₹52.0
-20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60₹56.9
$0.48₹45.33
25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹32.92
$0.35₹33.34
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86₹368
$3.98₹379
-3.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.56₹720
$10.28₹979
-26.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57₹245
$2.15₹205
19.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01₹382
$3.28₹313
22.26%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$8.42₹802
$7.57₹721
11.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Surat
Bangalore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹22.86
$0.59₹56.2
-59.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.65₹538
$14.61₹1,392
-61.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97₹92.7
$1.18₹113
-17.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.33₹31.13
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₹113
$2.36₹225
-50.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₹108
$1.19₹113
-5.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.6K₹1.1M
$14.0K₹1.3M
-17.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K₹2.0M
$24.7K₹2.4M
-13.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surat
Bangalore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.31₹3,649
$34.40₹3,277
11.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.37₹321
$4.95₹472
-31.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.72₹736
$10.97₹1,045
-29.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surat
Bangalore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.76₹1,691
$18.59₹1,771
-4.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.74₹642
$5.98₹570
12.71%
Cinema Ticket
$2.90₹276
$4.66₹444
-37.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surat
Bangalore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.91₹4,659
$116₹11.1K
-57.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,294₹123.2K
$3,236₹308.3K
-60.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surat
Bangalore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.00₹2,286
$27.98₹2,666
-14.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62₹2,345
$29.75₹2,833
-17.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.46₹4,045
$54.6₹5,201
-22.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.48₹4,047
$40.21₹3,831
5.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surat
Bangalore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$241₹23.0K
$306₹29.1K
-21.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$557₹53.1K
$179₹17.1K
210.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506₹48.2K
$842₹80.2K
-39.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$275₹26.2K
$486₹46.3K
-43.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$693₹66.1K
$1,812₹172.6K
-61.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$306₹29.2K
$962₹91.7K
-68.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surat
Bangalore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$327₹31.2K
$876₹83.4K
-62.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.2
9.19
0.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surat: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bangalore: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Surat and $306 in Bangalore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bangalore pays 168% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Surat vs $17.00 in Bangalore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $113 vs $132 per month, with Surat cheaper across the board.
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
Surat vs Bangalore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Surat and Bangalore?
Surat and Bangalore differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($888 vs $563 including rent). Bangalore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Are salaries higher in Surat or Bangalore?
On paper, Bangalore earns 168% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Surat vs Bangalore?
Rent for a central apartment: $241 in Surat versus $306 in Bangalore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Surat vs Bangalore?
A monthly transit pass in Bangalore runs roughly 159% less than in Surat. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Surat and Bangalore?
Childcare runs $48.91 in Surat versus $116 in Bangalore. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Surat or Bangalore?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Bangalore gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Surat or Bangalore?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bangalore delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $563 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bangalore hard to pass up.
How safe is Surat compared to Bangalore?
Safety-wise, Surat and Bangalore are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bangalore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Surat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.