For one person, living is cheaper in India: $395 a month against $1,598 in Timor-Leste, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Timor-Leste and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,598 in Timor-Leste versus $395 in India.
Timor-Leste $1,598
India $395
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,482 in Timor-Leste versus $628 in India.
Timor-Leste $2,482
India $628
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,366 in Timor-Leste versus $861 in India.
Timor-Leste $3,366
India $861
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Timor-Leste: monthly costs span $1,619 to $1,619, compared to $229–$828 in India. City choice carries more weight in Timor-Leste.
🌍
Living in Timor-Leste is roughly 304% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Timor-Leste (18% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.11$5.11
$2.14₹203
138.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.38$35.38
$10.57₹1,004
234.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.57$6.57
$3.77₹358
74.27%
Cappuccino
$3.95$3.95
$1.76₹167
124.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80$1.80
$0.42₹39.67
328.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88$2.88
$0.14₹13.45
1957.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97$2.97
$1.95₹186
52.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89$3.89
$3.11₹295
25.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.28$2.28
$0.63₹59.6
261.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.42$2.42
$0.46₹43.45
426.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.97$0.97
$0.68₹64.3
42.65%
Eggs
$2.64$2.64
$0.93₹88.4
183.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.94$1.94
$4.83₹458
-59.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.62$9.62
$2.91₹276
230.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.83$15.83
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.28$3.28
$2.00₹190
64.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86$1.86
$0.63₹59.6
195.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49$2.49
$0.98₹92.8
154.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.31$2.31
$0.51₹48.04
352.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.20$1.20
$0.36₹34.28
233.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20$1.20
$0.39₹36.72
207.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86$0.86
$0.43₹41.31
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
$0.29₹27.53
251.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03$3.03
$5.14₹488
-41.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.86$11.86
$7.33₹696
61.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29$2.29
$1.65₹157
38.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81$2.81
$2.73₹259
2.93%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.08₹483
-
🚌 Getting Around
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24$0.24
$0.25₹23.70
-4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.44$42.44
$8.49₹806
399.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60$3.60
$1.03₹97.9
249.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.63$3.63
$0.25₹23.69
1352.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.61$19.61
$1.61₹153
1118.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42$1.42
$1.07₹101
32.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K$20.1K
$11.3K₹1.1M
77.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K$18.0K
$20.1K₹1.9M
-10.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147$147
$37.73₹3,583
290.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.97$26.97
$3.58₹340
653.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$6.89₹655
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.1$74.1
$14.63₹1,390
406.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.25₹688
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.06$6.06
$3.17₹301
91.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,527$1,527
$56.5₹5,369
2600.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K$15.9K
$1,646₹156.3K
868.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1$61.1
$22.73₹2,158
168.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.83$29.83
$24.04₹2,283
24.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.4$79.4
$41.04₹3,898
93.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.1$59.1
$30.60₹2,906
93.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$830$830
$144₹13.6K
477.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$745$745
$91.5₹8,691
714.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,689$2,689
$324₹30.8K
728.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,533$1,533
$214₹20.3K
617.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,200₹114.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$619₹58.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timor-Leste
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,866$4,866
$440₹41.8K
1006.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.37
8.92
-39.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Timor-Leste: October 18, 2026
Last update for India: October 19, 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
Timor-Leste
$745 46.6%
India
$92 23.1% ↓ 87.7%$654
🛒Groceries & Markets
Timor-Leste
$274 17.2%
India
$102 25.8% ↓ 62.8%$172
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timor-Leste
$174 * 10.9%
India
$48 12.2% ↓ 72.4%$126
🍽Eating Out
Timor-Leste
$149 9.3%
India
$68 17.1% ↓ 54.6%$82
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Timor-Leste
$103 6.5%
India
$53 13.5% ↓ 48.4%$50
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Timor-Leste
$86 5.4%
India
$21 5.3% ↓ 75.7%$65
🚌Getting Around
Timor-Leste
$65 4.1%
India
$12 3% ↓ 82%$53
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Timor-Leste
$1.5K 45.5%
India
$214 24.8% ↓ 86.1%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Timor-Leste
$635 18.9%
India
$220 25.5% ↓ 65.4%$416
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timor-Leste
$201 * 6%
India
$52 6% ↓ 74.3%$150
🍽Eating Out
Timor-Leste
$464 13.8%
India
$184 21.4% ↓ 60.4%$280
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Timor-Leste
$229 6.8%
India
$118 13.8% ↓ 48.4%$111
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Timor-Leste
$172 * 5.1%
India
$49 5.7% ↓ 71.5%$123
🚌Getting Around
Timor-Leste
$131 3.9%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 81.6%$107
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $815 in Timor-Leste, $119 in India. Capital cities: $815 in Dili vs $271 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $3,531 in Timor-Leste, $413 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 585% higher in Timor-Leste.
⭐Dining out costs 400% more in Timor-Leste.
⭐Public transport is 343% more expensive in Timor-Leste.
⭐Salaries are 755% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.
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
Timor-Leste vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Timor-Leste?
At $395 per month in India and $1,598 in Timor-Leste, there's a 304% 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 cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $815 in Timor-Leste and $119 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
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