For one person, living is cheaper in Delhi: $536 a month against $799 in Surat, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Surat 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 Surat and in Delhi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $799 per month in Surat vs $536 in Delhi, rent included.
Surat $799
Delhi $536
A couple spends around $853 per month in Surat vs $901 in Delhi, rent included.
Surat $853
Delhi $901
A family of three spends $906 per month in Surat vs $1,266 in Delhi, rent included.
Surat $906
Delhi $1,266
😐
Surat costs about 49% more than Delhi.
📊
Both Surat and Delhi are more affordable than the global median – Surat41% lower, Delhi61% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Surat
Delhi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14₹298
$3.66₹348
-14.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.59₹1,007
$20.76₹1,974
-48.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.22₹306
$3.74₹356
-13.90%
Cappuccino
$1.76₹167
$2.48₹236
-29.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39₹37.19
$0.38₹36.17
2.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14₹13.61
$0.17₹15.83
-17.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21₹305
$2.04₹194
57.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39₹323
$3.07₹292
10.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surat
Delhi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.72₹68.3
$0.70₹66.3
2.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46₹43.86
$0.52₹49.19
-11.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72₹68.6
$0.82₹78.1
-12.20%
Eggs
$0.90₹85.7
$1.17₹112
-23.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.63₹440
$4.31₹410
7.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.74₹261
$3.36₹319
-18.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₹159
$1.96₹186
-14.80%
Banana(1kg)
$0.57₹54.6
$0.74₹70.5
-22.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76₹72.0
$0.99₹94.0
-23.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.55₹52.2
$0.49₹46.67
12.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39₹36.84
$0.29₹27.26
34.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43₹41.06
$0.41₹38.58
4.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46₹44.22
$0.44₹41.90
4.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.09
$0.31₹29.77
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94₹470
$5.03₹478
-1.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81₹743
$8.37₹796
-6.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86₹177
$1.67₹158
11.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05₹290
$2.81₹267
8.54%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.18₹588
$6.64₹632
-6.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Surat
Delhi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20₹19.02
$0.41₹38.54
-51.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.21₹306
$15.60₹1,484
-79.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56₹53.6
$1.08₹102
-48.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₹20.94
$0.25₹23.71
-12.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.08₹102
$1.57₹149
-31.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₹108
$1.11₹106
1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.4K₹1.1M
$11.1K₹1.1M
2.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.3K₹1.7M
$19.6K₹1.9M
-6.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surat
Delhi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.87₹3,507
$43.87₹4,172
-15.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.56₹338
$4.27₹406
-16.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.44₹707
$6.82₹648
9.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surat
Delhi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.56₹1,765
$26.06₹2,478
-28.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.45₹518
$8.09₹770
-32.63%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98₹284
$5.34₹508
-44.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surat
Delhi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$32.79₹3,118
$100₹9,523
-67.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$937₹89.1K
$2,288₹217.6K
-59.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surat
Delhi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.65₹2,154
$24.84₹2,363
-8.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.76₹2,354
$29.18₹2,776
-15.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.73₹3,874
$53.2₹5,056
-23.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.31₹3,073
$44.74₹4,255
-27.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surat
Delhi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$208₹19.8K
$277₹26.3K
-24.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$484₹46.0K
$159₹15.1K
204.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$387₹36.8K
$798₹75.9K
-51.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241₹23.0K
$420₹39.9K
-42.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$645₹61.3K
$2,558₹243.3K
-74.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$364₹34.6K
$1,172₹111.5K
-68.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surat
Delhi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$319₹30.3K
$598₹56.9K
-46.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.17
8.35
9.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surat: October 25, 2026
Last update for Delhi: 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Surat
$484 60.6%
Delhi
$159 29.6% ↓ 67.2%$325
🛒Groceries & Markets
Surat
$102 12.8%
Delhi
$108 20.2% ↑ 6.4%$6.5
🍽Eating Out
Surat
$81 10.1%
Delhi
$89 16.6% ↑ 10%$8.1
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Surat
$54 6.8%
Delhi
$68 12.8% ↑ 26.1%$14
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surat
$48 6%
Delhi
$55 10.3% ↑ 14.8%$7.1
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Surat
$25 3.1%
Delhi
$37 6.9% ↑ 49.8%$12
🚌Getting Around
Surat
$5.7 0.7%
Delhi
$20 3.7% ↑ 244%$14
🏠Accommodation & Living
Surat
$241 26.7%
Delhi
$420 33.2% ↑ 73.8%$178
🛒Groceries & Markets
Surat
$217 23.9%
Delhi
$233 18.4% ↑ 7.8%$17
🍽Eating Out
Surat
$210 23.2%
Delhi
$280 22.1% ↑ 33.3%$70
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Surat
$120 13.3%
Delhi
$152 12% ↑ 26.1%$31
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surat
$51 5.7%
Delhi
$59 4.7% ↑ 15.2%$7.8
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Surat
$54 6%
Delhi
$82 6.5% ↑ 49.7%$27
🚌Getting Around
Surat
$12 1.3%
Delhi
$40 3.2% ↑ 240%$28
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $208 in Surat versus $277 in Delhi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 88% higher in Delhi, 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 $11 in Surat versus $21 in Delhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $108 – making Surat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Surat vs Delhi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Surat compared to Delhi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,199 per month in Surat and $803 in Delhi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Surat and Delhi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Surat, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $208 there versus $277 in Delhi.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11 in Surat and $21 in Delhi. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Surat or Delhi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $799 in Surat and $536 in Delhi. That’s a gap of about 49%.
How far does $1,200 go in Surat compared to Delhi?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $799 in Surat and $536 in Delhi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Surat and Delhi?
It depends on your priorities. Surat has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $536 in Delhi to $799 in Surat. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.