😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,755 in Timor-Leste versus $388 in India.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,648 in Timor-Leste versus $617 in India.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Timor-Leste versus $846 in India.
🌍Living in Timor-Leste is roughly 352% more expensive than in India on average.
📊Timor-Leste (31% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Timor-Leste: monthly costs span $1,755 to $1,755, compared to $265–$913 in India. City choice carries more weight in Timor-Leste.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.02$5.02
$2.53₹244
98.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.32$44.32
$13.73₹1,324
222.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.23$8.23
$4.00₹386
105.75%
Cappuccino
$3.82$3.82
$1.91₹185
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59$1.59
$0.43₹41.92
269.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43$1.43
$0.17₹16.14
741.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02$2.02
$1.93₹186
4.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44$4.44
$3.54₹341
25.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.46$2.46
$0.73₹70.0
236.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47$2.47
$0.52₹50.2
375.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96$1.96
$0.73₹70.0
168.49%
Eggs
$2.64$2.64
$0.95₹91.5
177.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.95$1.95
$5.32₹513
-63.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61$9.61
$3.10₹299
210.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.93$15.93
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.56$3.56
$2.16₹208
64.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86$1.86
$0.70₹67.8
165.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96$1.96
$1.05₹101
86.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46$2.46
$0.53₹50.9
364.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97$1.97
$0.39₹37.72
405.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27$1.27
$0.48₹46.71
164.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02$1.02
$0.52₹49.86
96.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98$0.98
$0.36₹34.38
172.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71$2.71
$4.02₹388
-32.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.01$12.01
$7.28₹702
64.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22$2.22
$1.90₹184
16.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88$2.88
$3.03₹293
-4.95%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.84₹563
-
🚌 Getting Around
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26$0.26
$0.36₹34.72
-27.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.6$56.6
$9.84₹949
475.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57$3.57
$0.95₹92.0
275.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.31$3.31
$0.30₹29.08
1003.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.38$20.38
$1.79₹172
1038.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49$1.49
$1.21₹117
23.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K$21.4K
$13.9K₹1.3M
54.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K$19.8K
$22.4K₹2.2M
-11.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148$148
$40.16₹3,873
268.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.53$29.53
$3.76₹363
685.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2$50.2
$8.04₹776
524.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.12$49.12
$16.25₹1,567
202.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.05$3.05
$7.56₹729
-59.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.44$5.44
$3.43₹330
58.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$69.7₹6,724
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1K$16.1K
$1,852₹178.6K
766.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6$60.6
$25.59₹2,467
136.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.67$29.67
$26.30₹2,536
12.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5$78.5
$44.89₹4,328
74.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.4$59.4
$33.20₹3,202
78.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,081$1,081
$174₹16.8K
519.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$935$935
$112₹10.8K
731.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,434$3,434
$405₹39.0K
748.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,643$1,643
$258₹24.8K
537.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,263₹121.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$653₹62.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,850$4,850
$424₹40.9K
1043.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.37
9.02
-40.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Timor-Leste: July 13, 2026
Last update for India: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,117 in Timor-Leste, $127 in India. Capital cities: $1,117 in Dili vs $242 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $3,612 in Timor-Leste, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 780% higher in Timor-Leste.
⭐Dining out costs 309% more in Timor-Leste.
⭐Salaries are 808% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.
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
Timor-Leste vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Timor-Leste?
At $589 per month in India and $1,755 in Timor-Leste, there's a 198% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Timor-Leste is consistently higher than in India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Timor-Leste?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Timor-Leste it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Timor-Leste?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Timor-Leste may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Timor-Leste vs other spots: cost of living compared