🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $269 in Vellore versus $779 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $477 in Vellore versus $1,255 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $685 in Vellore versus $1,732 in Mumbai (Bombay).
🙂Living in Vellore costs roughly 65% less than in Mumbai (Bombay), driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Vellore80% lower, Mumbai (Bombay)42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vellore
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39₹132
$5.32₹506
-73.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.39₹704
$22.40₹2,133
-67.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.40₹229
$4.63₹441
-48.16%
Cappuccino
$1.30₹123
$2.52₹240
-48.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₹37.94
$0.51₹48.25
-21.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.57
$0.15₹14.64
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73₹165
$2.28₹217
-24.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42₹326
$3.95₹376
-13.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vellore
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.55₹52.2
$0.75₹71.1
-26.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43₹41.37
$0.51₹48.81
-15.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.69₹66.1
$0.77₹73.7
-10.39%
Eggs
$0.84₹79.9
$1.08₹103
-22.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.03₹194
$7.14₹680
-71.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.45₹233
$3.88₹370
-36.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71₹163
$2.30₹219
-25.65%
Banana(1kg)
$0.72₹68.1
$0.81₹77.3
-11.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.96₹91.0
$1.26₹120
-23.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.32₹30.61
$0.64₹60.7
-50.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.37₹34.77
$0.58₹54.8
-36.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52₹49.87
$0.63₹60.1
-17.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24₹22.97
$0.64₹61.0
-62.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28₹26.84
$0.33₹31.00
-15.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.70₹162
$4.20₹400
-59.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.66₹349
$8.25₹786
-55.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84₹175
$2.17₹207
-15.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78₹265
$3.40₹324
-18.24%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.74₹547
$7.03₹670
-18.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Vellore
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₹26.27
$0.24₹22.97
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.89₹847
$4.51₹430
97.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45₹42.58
$0.37₹34.87
21.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₹33.71
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.19₹113
$1.41₹135
-15.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20₹115
$1.19₹113
0.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K₹1.1M
$17.4K₹1.7M
-35.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K₹1.6M
$24.5K₹2.3M
-30.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vellore
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.59₹3,390
$50.8₹4,838
-29.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.44₹327
$4.81₹458
-28.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.26₹406
$8.75₹834
-51.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vellore
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$8.67₹826
$23.11₹2,201
-62.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.08₹484
$11.99₹1,142
-57.63%
Cinema Ticket
$2.29₹218
$4.71₹448
-51.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vellore
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$31.38₹2,989
$122₹11.6K
-74.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,293₹123.1K
$3,393₹323.2K
-61.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vellore
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.39₹895
$29.14₹2,776
-67.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.72₹1,973
$30.61₹2,916
-32.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$21.83₹2,079
$55.2₹5,253
-60.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.62₹2,535
$39.74₹3,786
-33.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vellore
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$63.0₹5,999
$705₹67.1K
-91.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$35.13₹3,346
$357₹34.0K
-90.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$183₹17.5K
$1,792₹170.7K
-89.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179₹17.1K
$825₹78.6K
-78.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,104₹105.1K
$6,436₹613.1K
-82.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$673₹64.1K
$2,627₹250.2K
-74.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vellore
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$314₹29.9K
$744₹70.9K
-57.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
9.22
-29.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vellore: June 2, 2026
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $63.0 in Vellore and $705 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mumbai (Bombay) pays 137% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $7.00 in Vellore vs $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $81.0 vs $129 per month, with Vellore 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
Vellore vs Mumbai (Bombay): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vellore and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Vellore and Mumbai (Bombay) differ by about 190% in total monthly costs ($269 vs $779 including rent). Vellore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mumbai (Bombay) earns 137% 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 Vellore and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Rent for a central apartment: $63.0 in Vellore versus $705 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 59% 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 Vellore – a meal for two runs $7.00 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 $1,500 per month?
At $269 in Vellore versus $779 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Vellore but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Vellore the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Vellore and Mumbai (Bombay)?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Vellore or Mumbai (Bombay)?
Expats usually find Vellore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 190% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.