How Much Does It Cost to Live In Delhi?
Delhi is a multinational city where people speak Hindi, and many also understand English, and Portuguese.
The city is well-organized and structured.
Over 60 000 world important monuments which date back several millennia ago are located in Delhi.
The developing industries cover the IT sphere, textile, clothing, and footwear industry, handicraft, and, of course, chemical-pharmaceutical industries.
The city has a good business climate and attracts foreign investors.
Numerous international trade shows, conferences, and exhibitions are held here.
Delhi is not an expensive city compared to the rest of the large cities in India.
India : Cost of Living by City
- Ahmedabad
- Bangalore
- Bhopal
- Bhubaneswar
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Coimbatore
- Delhi
- Goa
- Gurgaon
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Indore
- Jaipur
- Kochi
- Kolkata
- Lucknow (Lakhnau)
- Ludhiana
- Mangalore
- Mumbai
- Mysore
- Nagpur
- Navi Mumbai
- Noida
- Pune
- Surat
- Thane
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Vadodara
- Visakhapatnam
RESTAURANTS
The prices in the restaurants in Delhi are higher than in Coimbatore or Chandigarh, for instance, but the quality and the diversity of meals is much better.
The locals prefer eating out in the restaurants that offer traditionally Indian, as well as European cuisines.
A cup of coffee is $1.76, a three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant is $17.35, and a bottle of Coke $0.47.
MARKETS
The markets in Delhi offer a marvelous variety of products, from fresh fruits and vegetables to chickens which are chosen alive and chopped right before the purchase.
The cheapest products at the market are potato ($0.31), fresh white bread and tomatoes ($0.41), and the most expensive items are wine, local cheese, and buffalo round.
The cigarettes are sold at $4.34 on average.
TRANSPORTATION
Two international bus stations, two airports, and three railway stations are at your service in Delhi.
The public transportation includes metro, buses and electric city trains.
The best and most comfortable way to travel around the city is the subway where you should keep the token with you all the time to be able to leave the station.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Water, electricity, garbage, heating, and cooling in Delhi cost an average of $56.35 per month.
The mobile and Internet connection is rather good here, and the prices are fairly low.
Mobile phones do not work in the mountain regions, and the Internet can be found in any Internet-cafe or a hotel in Delhi.
Thus, a minute of speaking on the phone is $0.01, and the unlimited data Internet, either cable or ADSL with the speed of at least 60 Mbps is $12.10.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Delhi has lots of brilliant opportunities to let you spend your leisure time with pleasure.
For instance, you can visit beaches, sports clubs, playgrounds for kids, attractions, aquariums, and museums.
If you do not imagine your life without fitness, buy a monthly subscription for just $23.02, or play tennis on weekend for $5.89 per hour.
CLOTHING & SHOES
The locals are accustomed to buying clothes and shoes at the local markets because the textile and footwear industries are what Delhi is famous for.
The city has also many shopping malls and stores where you are expected to pay in cash.
The chain stores like Levi’s, Zara, and Nike offer reasonable prices for casual clothes and running shoes.
A pair of men’s leather shoes is $40.40.
RENT PER MONTH
Students, businessmen, investors, and travelers need accommodation in Delhi for either permanent settling down or temporary stay.
The prices for rented apartments are absolutely different depending on either the flat is furnished or not, on how far it is from the city center, and so on.
The average price for a one bedroom apartment is $126.34 outside the downtown and $224.05 in the center.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Delhi
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $3.93 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.71 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.21 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.69 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.40 |
| Eggs (12) | $0.93 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.36 |
| Monthly Pass | $14.28 |
| Gasoline | $1.10 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $56.35 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.01 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $12.10 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $23.02 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $5.89 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $4.28 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $34.72 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $35.13 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $56.30 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $224.05 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $126.34 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $550.85 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Delhi?
Clothing and shoes are the cheapest things in Delhi, moreover, the summer is long here and the weather is good most of the time, so people do not need many different clothes, like coats, boots etc.
As little as 4.1% of the money is spent on shopping.
The next item of expenditure 5.1% is the monthly bills for the major home comforts like water, electricity, garbage, mobile phone, and the Internet.
These are followed by sports and leisure which takes 6.8% of an average Delhi citizen’s budget.
The largest items of expenditure for an average person are markets (36.3%), transportation (12.5%), and restaurants (14%).
Of course, we do not forget about the monthly rent or 21.3% of the total income after tax.
Average Costs Breakdown
Delhi: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The minimum wage in Delhi is officially fixed at the level of $54.5 per month.
The salary, though, depends on the experience and education level.
This wage seems extremely low in comparison with the average salary that most people in Delhi earn.
To be more precise, we can name an average figure of $533.08 per employer per month.
This sum is quite enough to pay for a one bedroom apartment in the city center, and often eat out in the local restaurants, cafes or street food eateries.
One person in Delhi spends around $353.4 per month without rent, and a four-person family spends $1,221.63 per month.
The mortgage interest rate in percentage is 9.18% per annum.
Delhi Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Delhi Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: HIGH
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: HIGH
Cost of Living by City in Delhi
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | 24.24 |
| Bangalore | 26.83 |
| Bhopal | 22.37 |
| Bhubaneswar | 22.4 |
| Chandigarh | 26 |
| Chennai | 25.2 |
| Coimbatore | 22.38 |
| Goa | 24.34 |
| Gurgaon | 30.71 |
| Guwahati | 22.68 |
| Hyderabad | 23.59 |
| Indore | 25.4 |
| Jaipur | 25.46 |
| Kochi | 21.73 |
| Kolkata | 24.8 |
| Lucknow (Lakhnau) | 24.75 |
| Ludhiana | 27.17 |
| Mangalore | 22.4 |
| Mumbai | 29.03 |
| Mysore | 22.4 |
| Nagpur | 22.76 |
| Navi Mumbai | 19.3 |
| Noida | 28.55 |
| Pune | 27.41 |
| Surat | 23.77 |
| Thane | 25.31 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 19.26 |
| Vadodara | 22.28 |
| Visakhapatnam | 21.52 |
