๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $344 in Thoothukudi versus $763 in Mumbai (Bombay).
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $583 in Thoothukudi versus $1,248 in Mumbai (Bombay).
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $822 in Thoothukudi versus $1,733 in Mumbai (Bombay).
๐Living in Thoothukudi costs roughly 55% less than in Mumbai (Bombay), driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Thoothukudi74% lower, Mumbai (Bombay)43% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Thoothukudi
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.94โน88.5
$5.20โน488
-81.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.05โน850
$22.16โน2,080
-59.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.63โน434
$4.54โน426
1.98%
Cappuccino
$1.41โน132
$2.62โน246
-46.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43โน40.53
$0.50โน47.34
-14.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18โน16.54
$0.15โน14.28
20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.70โน160
$2.38โน224
-28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88โน270
$3.97โน373
-27.46%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Thoothukudi
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.70โน65.7
$0.78โน73.7
-10.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46โน43.27
$0.51โน48.23
-9.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65โน60.6
$0.81โน76.3
-19.75%
Eggs
$0.76โน71.4
$1.04โน97.2
-26.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.55โน333
$7.06โน663
-49.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06โน287
$3.80โน356
-19.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24โน210
$2.31โน216
-3.03%
Banana(1kg)
$0.77โน71.9
$0.76โน71.8
1.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08โน102
$1.31โน123
-17.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54โน50.7
$0.66โน61.9
-18.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49โน45.91
$0.54โน50.5
-9.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59โน55.6
$0.60โน55.9
-1.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71โน67.0
$0.64โน60.3
10.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35โน33.15
$0.35โน33.09
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61โน433
$4.11โน386
12.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.86โน737
$7.81โน733
0.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28โน120
$2.16โน202
-40.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66โน156
$3.26โน306
-49.08%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$3.30โน310
$6.95โน653
-52.52%
๐ Getting Around
Thoothukudi
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56โน52.6
$0.22โน20.54
154.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.64โน1,655
$4.75โน446
271.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54โน50.6
$0.33โน31.32
63.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.18โน111
$1.35โน127
-12.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18โน110
$1.24โน116
-4.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.6Kโน1.1M
$17.8Kโน1.7M
-34.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.0Kโน1.5M
$24.6Kโน2.3M
-35.23%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thoothukudi
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.31โน2,657
$50.8โน4,769
-44.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.15โน296
$4.84โน454
-34.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.19โน675
$8.83โน829
-18.57%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Thoothukudi
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.60โน1,933
$23.20โน2,177
-11.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.11โน198
$11.85โน1,112
-82.19%
Cinema Ticket
$1.73โน162
$4.75โน446
-63.58%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Thoothukudi
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$46.17โน4,333
$118โน11.1K
-60.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,405โน225.7K
$3,350โน314.4K
-28.21%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Thoothukudi
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.65โน2,501
$29.41โน2,760
-9.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.60โน1,934
$31.15โน2,924
-33.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$22.44โน2,106
$55.0โน5,158
-59.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.21โน2,366
$40.05โน3,759
-37.05%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Thoothukudi
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$106โน9,911
$691โน64.9K
-84.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.2โน6,026
$352โน33.1K
-81.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$406โน38.1K
$1,822โน171.0K
-77.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234โน21.9K
$845โน79.3K
-72.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,634โน622.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,639โน247.7K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Thoothukudi
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$289โน27.1K
$730โน68.5K
-60.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.5
9.22
-7.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Thoothukudi: April 20, 2026
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Thoothukudi and $691 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMumbai (Bombay) pays 153% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $9 in Thoothukudi vs $22 in Mumbai (Bombay) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $128 per month, with Thoothukudi 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
Thoothukudi vs Mumbai (Bombay): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Thoothukudi and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Thoothukudi and Mumbai (Bombay) differ by about 122% in total monthly costs ($344 vs $763 including rent). Thoothukudi is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mumbai (Bombay) earns 153% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Thoothukudi and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Rent for a central apartment: $106 in Thoothukudi versus $691 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Mumbai (Bombay). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Thoothukudi โ a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $344 in Thoothukudi versus $763 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thoothukudi but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Thoothukudi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Thoothukudi and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Thoothukudi or Mumbai (Bombay)?
Expats usually find Thoothukudi gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 122% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Thoothukudi vs other spots: cost of living compared