Cost of Living Comparison Between Timor-Leste and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Timor-Leste and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,803 in Timor-Leste versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,617 in Timor-Leste versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,431 in Timor-Leste versus $846 in India.

Living in Timor-Leste is roughly 365% more expensive than India on average.

Timor-Leste (35% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Timor-Leste: monthly costs span $1,803 to $1,803, compared to $264$888 in India. City choice carries more weight in Timor-Leste.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.08 $5.08
$2.49 ₹238
104.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.11 $44.11
$14.20 ₹1,360
210.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.10 $8.10
$3.98 ₹381
103.52%
Cappuccino
$3.80 $3.80
$1.88 ₹180
102.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$0.44 ₹42.21
270.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 $1.44
$0.19 ₹18.67
657.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.02 ₹193
-2.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 $4.48
$3.45 ₹331
29.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.39 $2.39
$0.72 ₹68.7
231.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 $2.52
$0.52 ₹49.53
384.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.72 ₹69.1
175.00%
Eggs
$2.73 $2.73
$0.93 ₹89.3
193.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$5.24 ₹502
-61.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.61 $9.61
$3.07 ₹294
213.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.11 $16.11
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.17 ₹208
65.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$0.76 ₹72.6
147.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.05 ₹101
94.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.53 ₹51.0
367.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.39 ₹37.74
425.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.49 ₹47.06
161.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 $0.99
$0.52 ₹49.62
90.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.33 ₹31.30
193.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.76 $2.76
$4.05 ₹388
-31.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.78 $11.78
$7.39 ₹708
59.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.84 ₹176
20.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.90 ₹278
-4.48%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.65 ₹541
-
🚌 Getting Around
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 $0.24
$0.36 ₹34.78
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.9 $56.9
$9.74 ₹933
484.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 $3.56
$0.95 ₹91.1
274.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.22 $3.22
$0.30 ₹28.79
973.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.71 $19.71
$1.73 ₹166
1039.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.23 ₹117
21.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K $21.7K
$13.9K ₹1.3M
56.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K $19.6K
$22.6K ₹2.2M
-13.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 $149
$40.88 ₹3,915
264.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.35 $30.35
$3.91 ₹374
676.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.5 $50.5
$7.81 ₹748
546.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.5 $50.5
$16.15 ₹1,547
212.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.96 $2.96
$7.49 ₹717
-60.48%
Cinema Ticket
$5.39 $5.39
$3.42 ₹328
57.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$69.9 ₹6,697
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K $15.8K
$1,793 ₹171.7K
781.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.0 $61.0
$25.83 ₹2,474
136.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.49 $29.49
$26.61 ₹2,549
10.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 $80.8
$45.24 ₹4,332
78.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.2 $60.2
$33.68 ₹3,226
78.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 $1,095
$178 ₹17.1K
514.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$932 $932
$115 ₹11.0K
713.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,457 $3,457
$407 ₹39.0K
749.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,649 $1,649
$264 ₹25.2K
525.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,240 ₹118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$631 ₹60.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,921 $4,921
$432 ₹41.4K
1039.03%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,096 in Timor-Leste, $127 in India. Capital cities: $1,096 in Dili vs $239 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $3,561 in Timor-Leste, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 763% higher in Timor-Leste.

Dining out costs 300% more in Timor-Leste.

Salaries are 795% higher in Timor-Leste, giving Timor-Leste stronger purchasing power.

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 $576 per month in India and $1,803 in Timor-Leste, there's a 213% 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?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 Timor-Leste?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Timor-Leste, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or 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

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