Cost of Living Comparison Between Surat and Chandigarh Cost of Living Comparison Between Surat and Chandigarh

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $823 in Surat versus $486 in Chandigarh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $851 in Surat versus $764 in Chandigarh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $879 in Surat versus $1,042 in Chandigarh.

Living in Surat is roughly 69% more expensive than in Chandigarh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surat 40% lower, Chandigarh 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 ₹296

$3.05 ₹293

1.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.42 ₹1,000

$13.40 ₹1,286

-22.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.11 ₹298

$4.28 ₹410

-27.34%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₹178

$2.63 ₹252

-29.66%

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

$0.37 ₹35.15

$0.43 ₹41.66

-13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ₹15.30

$0.23 ₹21.90

-30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ₹283

$2.12 ₹203

39.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₹299

$3.11 ₹298

0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 ₹66.7

$0.72 ₹68.7

-2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₹47.92

$0.54 ₹52.1

-7.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 ₹64.0

$0.84 ₹80.2

-20.24%

Eggs

$0.97 ₹93.0

$0.94 ₹90.4

3.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 ₹421

$5.08 ₹488

-13.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.71 ₹260

$2.87 ₹275

-5.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₹160

$1.84 ₹177

-9.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 ₹55.5

$0.76 ₹73.2

-23.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 ₹74.7

$1.08 ₹103

-27.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 ₹55.3

$0.63 ₹60.6

-7.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 ₹33.07

$0.32 ₹31.11

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₹38.33

$0.35 ₹33.41

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 ₹42.89

$0.69 ₹66.5

-34.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₹31.10

$0.30 ₹28.51

6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.99 ₹479

$4.95 ₹475

0.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₹712

$11.58 ₹1,111

-35.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₹175

$1.73 ₹166

5.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₹285

$2.64 ₹253

12.50%

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

$6.01 ₹577

$6.77 ₹649

-11.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.97

$0.30 ₹28.55

-26.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.25 ₹504

$3.63 ₹348

44.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 ₹52.1

$1.07 ₹103

-49.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₹19.14

$0.24 ₹23.03

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 ₹102

$1.59 ₹153

-32.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₹108

$1.07 ₹103

5.61%

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

$11.9K ₹1.1M

$12.7K ₹1.2M

-6.41%

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

$18.4K ₹1.8M

$25.3K ₹2.4M

-27.15%

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

$37.16 ₹3,566

$44.94 ₹4,311

-17.31%

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

$3.67 ₹352

$4.80 ₹460

-23.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.39 ₹709

$7.01 ₹672

5.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.59 ₹1,783

$21.31 ₹2,044

-12.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.29 ₹507

$7.99 ₹766

-33.79%

Cinema Ticket

$2.80 ₹269

$3.09 ₹296

-9.39%

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

$32.56 ₹3,124

$58.7 ₹5,634

-44.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$861 ₹82.6K

$2,483 ₹238.2K

-65.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.53 ₹2,162

$26.60 ₹2,552

-15.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.73 ₹2,373

$25.15 ₹2,413

-1.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.68 ₹3,903

$57.8 ₹5,546

-29.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.29 ₹3,194

$43.90 ₹4,212

-24.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 ₹21.2K

$170 ₹16.3K

29.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 ₹47.6K

$117 ₹11.2K

325.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$384 ₹36.8K

$456 ₹43.7K

-15.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 ₹19.1K

$283 ₹27.2K

-29.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$660 ₹63.3K

$2,951 ₹283.1K

-77.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$307 ₹29.4K

$1,768 ₹169.6K

-82.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$313 ₹30.1K

$438 ₹42.0K

-28.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.17

14.63%

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

Last update for Surat: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chandigarh: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $221 in Surat and $170 in Chandigarh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chandigarh pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $10.00 in Surat vs $13.00 in Chandigarh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $100 vs $116 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 Chandigarh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chandigarh wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Surat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chandigarh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 40% lower in Chandigarh. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $221 in Surat versus $170 in Chandigarh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chandigarh runs roughly 45% less than in Surat. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $32.56 in Surat versus $58.7 in Chandigarh. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chandigarh 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.

Safety-wise, Surat and Chandigarh are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chandigarh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Surat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.