Cost of Living Comparison Between Surat and Delhi Cost of Living Comparison Between Surat and Delhi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $810 per month in Surat vs $537 in Delhi, rent included.

A couple spends around $850 per month in Surat vs $872 in Delhi, rent included.

A family of three spends $890 per month in Surat vs $1,208 in Delhi, rent included.

Surat costs about 51% more than Delhi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Surat and Delhi are more affordable than the global median – Surat 41% lower, Delhi 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 ₹300

$3.94 ₹376

-20.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.65 ₹1,018

$20.77 ₹1,984

-48.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.24 ₹310

$4.03 ₹385

-19.60%

Cappuccino

$1.82 ₹174

$2.39 ₹228

-23.85%

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

$0.35 ₹33.40

$0.35 ₹33.66

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₹14.72

$0.17 ₹15.81

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 ₹286

$2.08 ₹199

43.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₹298

$3.20 ₹305

-2.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 ₹67.1

$0.71 ₹67.8

-1.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 ₹45.51

$0.53 ₹50.5

-9.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 ₹62.7

$0.77 ₹73.5

-14.29%

Eggs

$0.91 ₹87.1

$1.07 ₹102

-14.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.66 ₹445

$4.52 ₹432

3.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.87 ₹274

$3.49 ₹333

-17.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 ₹166

$2.05 ₹196

-15.12%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 ₹60.0

$0.80 ₹76.8

-21.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 ₹75.3

$1.04 ₹99.5

-24.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 ₹55.0

$0.51 ₹48.56

13.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 ₹34.33

$0.30 ₹28.63

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 ₹41.64

$0.42 ₹39.76

4.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 ₹46.89

$0.46 ₹43.81

6.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹28.57

$0.29 ₹27.36

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 ₹492

$5.23 ₹500

-1.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 ₹718

$8.56 ₹818

-12.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₹176

$1.63 ₹155

12.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ₹302

$2.74 ₹262

15.33%

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

$6.10 ₹583

$6.41 ₹613

-4.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₹23.93

$0.40 ₹38.52

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.43 ₹518

$15.80 ₹1,510

-65.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 ₹48.79

$1.03 ₹98.0

-50.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₹19.10

$0.25 ₹23.78

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 ₹103

$1.64 ₹156

-34.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₹107

$1.10 ₹105

1.82%

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

$12.0K ₹1.1M

$11.5K ₹1.1M

4.09%

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

$18.9K ₹1.8M

$19.7K ₹1.9M

-4.09%

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

$37.30 ₹3,564

$42.17 ₹4,029

-11.55%

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

$3.69 ₹353

$4.16 ₹397

-11.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.26 ₹694

$6.85 ₹655

5.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.83 ₹1,799

$20.21 ₹1,931

-6.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.23 ₹499

$8.52 ₹814

-38.62%

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 ₹285

$5.14 ₹491

-42.02%

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

$33.20 ₹3,172

$97.6 ₹9,328

-65.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$902 ₹86.2K

$2,100 ₹200.6K

-57.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.84 ₹2,182

$24.69 ₹2,359

-7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.27 ₹2,414

$29.78 ₹2,845

-15.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.92 ₹3,910

$53.9 ₹5,153

-24.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.45 ₹3,100

$48.00 ₹4,586

-32.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 ₹21.5K

$272 ₹26.0K

-17.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ₹48.8K

$159 ₹15.2K

221.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₹36.8K

$709 ₹67.7K

-45.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ₹19.3K

$384 ₹36.7K

-47.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$670 ₹64.0K

$2,528 ₹241.5K

-73.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$311 ₹29.7K

$970 ₹92.6K

-67.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 ₹30.0K

$605 ₹57.8K

-48.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.17

8.6

6.63%

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

Last update for Surat: September 6, 2026

Last update for Delhi: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Surat versus $272 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 93% 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 $11.00 in Surat versus $21.00 in Delhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $110 – making Surat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Surat costs about 51% more than Delhi, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,215 per month in Surat and $805 in Delhi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Delhi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Surat and $21.00 in Delhi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $810 in Surat and $537 in Delhi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $810 in Surat and $537 in Delhi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Delhi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Delhi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.