Cost of Living in India - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: India
Address: IN

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $297 (excluding rent), and $450 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $689 (excluding rent), and $976 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 ₹227

$1.14 ₹103

$5.69 ₹515

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.19 ₹1,285

$8.27 ₹749

$35.47 ₹3,212

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.01 ₹363

$3.43 ₹311

$5.72 ₹518

Cappuccino

$1.81 ₹164

$0.57 ₹51.2

$3.97 ₹359

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₹39.53

$0.24 ₹21.65

$0.60 ₹54.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ₹16.32

$0.13 ₹11.52

$0.24 ₹22.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ₹183

$1.18 ₹107

$4.15 ₹376

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ₹320

$2.36 ₹214

$5.88 ₹533

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₹66.1

$0.54 ₹49.10

$0.92 ₹83.1

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 ₹43.05

$0.28 ₹24.97

$0.77 ₹69.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 ₹65.0

$0.48 ₹43.67

$1.19 ₹108

Eggs

$0.92 ₹83.4

$0.67 ₹60.8

$1.34 ₹122

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.44 ₹492

$2.63 ₹238

$11.95 ₹1,082

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 ₹289

$1.77 ₹160

$5.22 ₹473

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 ₹190

$0.91 ₹82.1

$3.40 ₹308

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 ₹69.4

$0.49 ₹44.65

$1.47 ₹133

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 ₹95.6

$0.46 ₹41.97

$2.30 ₹208

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 ₹47.53

$0.22 ₹19.88

$0.89 ₹80.4

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 ₹35.74

$0.22 ₹20.05

$0.56 ₹50.6

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 ₹43.68

$0.24 ₹21.38

$0.78 ₹70.6

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₹49.48

$0.24 ₹21.47

$1.20 ₹108

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₹29.86

$0.22 ₹20.20

$0.40 ₹36.00

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 ₹365

$2.88 ₹261

$4.60 ₹417

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 ₹704

$3.25 ₹294

$16.24 ₹1,471

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₹167

$1.15 ₹104

$2.89 ₹262

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₹261

$1.69 ₹153

$4.52 ₹409

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.81 ₹527

$2.35 ₹213

$9.98 ₹904

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 ₹30.30

$0.16 ₹14.71

$0.67 ₹60.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.10 ₹914

$2.97 ₹269

$23.74 ₹2,151

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₹83.2

$0.35 ₹31.30

$1.72 ₹156

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ₹25.20

$0.16 ₹14.77

$0.55 ₹49.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₹162

$1.19 ₹108

$2.51 ₹227

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₹108

$1.11 ₹100

$1.27 ₹115

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$13.7K ₹1.2M

$11.4K ₹1.0M

$19.4K ₹1.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ₹2.0M

$18.5K ₹1.7M

$28.9K ₹2.6M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.92 ₹3,616

$23.02 ₹2,085

$86.7 ₹7,856

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.86 ₹350

$2.35 ₹213

$7.05 ₹639

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.89 ₹714

$5.79 ₹524

$11.58 ₹1,049

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.39 ₹1,485

$5.87 ₹532

$35.26 ₹3,194

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.56 ₹685

$3.43 ₹311

$11.83 ₹1,072

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 ₹310

$2.29 ₹207

$5.70 ₹516

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$70.6 ₹6,395

$29.57 ₹2,678

$177 ₹16.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,819 ₹164.7K

$837 ₹75.8K

$5,077 ₹459.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.20 ₹2,283

$11.53 ₹1,045

$46.18 ₹4,182

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.37 ₹2,388

$11.49 ₹1,041

$45.95 ₹4,162

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.27 ₹4,100

$23.11 ₹2,093

$80.9 ₹7,325

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.63 ₹2,955

$17.16 ₹1,554

$57.2 ₹5,181

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₹15.8K

$92.3 ₹8,358

$693 ₹62.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 ₹10.2K

$58.2 ₹5,274

$556 ₹50.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 ₹37.1K

$211 ₹19.1K

$1,824 ₹165.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 ₹23.3K

$138 ₹12.5K

$830 ₹75.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,323 ₹119.8K

$678 ₹61.4K

$6,966 ₹630.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$677 ₹61.3K

$416 ₹37.7K

$2,690 ₹243.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$460 ₹41.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.02

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: February 1, 2026

By City in India

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Abohar	145238	19	$287	$386	$534	$842	97.9	41.4
2	Adoni	184625	22	$287	$444	$707	$986	101.38	37.79
3	Agartala	400000	19	$270	$386	$714	$808	131.41	37.41
4	Agra	1500000	20	$278	$401	$696	$829	101.23	53.34
5	Ahmedabad	6352254	26	$344	$534	$796	$1,082	122.16	64.37
6	Ahmednagar	350859	22	$328	$433	$660	$916	33.36	47.51
7	Aizawl	291822	18	$294	$356	$638	$860	29.66	59.73
8	Ajmer	542600	17	$264	$343	$512	$714	30.38	61.65
9	Akola	425800	18	$276	$366	$654	$754	110.49	38.22
10	Alappuzha	177000	17	$226	$331	$667	$733	75.43	44.31
11	Aligarh	872575	19	$245	$382	$568	$764	164.24	39
12	Allahabad	5959798	17	$257	$349	$521	$754	229.32	58.74
13	Alwar	260000	19	$263	$376	$566	$780	263.8	59.83
14	Ambala	196000	21	$272	$410	$683	$890	18.28	60.52
15	Amravati	647000	18	$263	$351	$632	$760	166.06	41.56
16	Amritsar	1132761	19	$300	$385	$722	$809	110.38	58.01
17	Anand	198200	17	$294	$344	$606	$736	140.02	42.47
18	Anantapur	267161	18	$276	$352	$507	$762	14.54	53.22
19	Andaman Islands	-	20	$295	$397	$673	$842	42.55	45.24
20	Angul	-	17	$229	$336	$433	$724	180.82	34.68
21	Araria	60600	18	$257	$371	$624	$774	499.63	39.07
22	Asansol	500000	19	$250	$380	$608	$867	51.93	50.34
23	Aurangabad	1175116	19	$275	$379	$606	$846	266.87	57.36
24	Azamgarh	111000	18	$235	$372	$629	$788	45.18	35.02
25	Balaghat	-	19	$256	$386	$681	$852	51.53	33
26	Balasore	-	19	$260	$392	$656	$832	23.43	52.25
27	Banga	-	24	$296	$463	$883	$1,024	23.25	29.3
28	Bangalore	-	29	$358	$572	$834	$1,343	24.12	125.22
29	Bankura	137400	19	$291	$378	$623	$778	305.5	38.09
30	Baramulla	58053	19	$235	$392	$607	$854	181.59	29.78
31	Baraut	103700	19	$289	$394	$684	$828	140.79	61.6
32	Bareilly	898167	19	$259	$372	$501	$773	23.67	39.91
33	Bathinda	285813	19	$289	$374	$649	$851	50.99	69.72
34	Begusarai	250000	14	$261	$288	$513	$739	101.89	35.8
35	Belgaum	600000	18	$279	$365	$522	$831	315.06	40.39
36	Bellary	475000	22	$313	$445	$745	$986	115	51.29
37	Berhampur	-	18	$267	$367	$544	$743	171.76	37.05
38	Bhagalpur	410000	16	$253	$316	$665	$705	135.45	40.1
39	Bharuch, Gujarat	169000	25	$288	$485	$588	$881	104.02	50.67
40	Bhavnagar	593768	18	$227	$364	$552	$771	154.53	39.51
41	Bhilai	-	15	$201	$300	$460	$708	114.48	51.68
42	Bhimavaram	142184	19	$276	$393	$662	$825	138.9	37.63
43	Bhiwadi	104900	17	$261	$348	$628	$844	129.6	77.61
44	Bhopal	1800000	20	$280	$402	$661	$849	109.25	47.45
45	Bhubaneswar	100000	20	$292	$410	$651	$879	152.64	71.84
46	Bhuj	143200	18	$249	$346	$639	$881	67.91	40.83
47	Biaora	-	19	$311	$383	$553	$842	346.15	41.25
48	Bijapur	330000	18	$264	$366	$647	$830	119.32	27.76
49	Bikaner	647804	16	$281	$321	$580	$727	148.72	51.65
50	Bilaspur	115000	19	$276	$366	$692	$838	18.74	36.72

India Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in India - Frequently Asked Questions

India offers a broad price spectrum, so travelers, expats, and digital nomads can find solid value by choosing city and lifestyle carefully. Cost of Living in India is notably lower in many smaller cities and towns, while major metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, or Chennai can feel pricier, especially for premium housing or imported goods. You’ll win value by leaning into local markets, shared or long-stay housing, and seasonal travel between regions to tame swings. Transport is often economical when you favor trains, buses, and affordable metro options; food stays affordable when you cook at home or opt for street meals with common-sense hygiene. Tip: map your needs to a couple of neighborhoods and test stay durations before committing.

Daily life centers on choosing a home base that fits your work rhythm and budget. Housing options range from serviced apartments to coworking-friendly flats; in metro areas you may find shorter lease terms that suit travel plans. Food options span neighborhood markets, home cooking, and diverse street bites, with costs varying by district. For transport, trains and metros cover long distances affordably, while ride-hailing and bikes offer flexibility in busy corridors; errands are streamlined in well-connected neighborhoods. India living cost fluctuates with location and season, so you benefit from consolidating tasks to nearby amenities and negotiating longer stays. Tip: start with a one-month stay in a few neighborhoods to feel out routines before committing long-term.

Quality of life in India varies by city, season, and community. Create a simple budgeting framework: base rent, utilities, transportation, and flexible costs for activities; keep a buffer for seasonal travel and monsoon-related adjustments. Seasonality can shift prices in tourist hubs and festival periods, so plan ahead. For neighborhood fit, prioritize access to transit hubs, safe streets, coworking spaces, and expat networks; test different areas during workdays and weekends. Consider long-tail cost-saving tactics such as shared housing, local SIM plans, and kitchen-friendly accommodations. Tip: use a city-by-city checklist to compare neighborhoods on commute, safety, and amenities before settling in.