Delhi skyline

🇮🇳Cost of Living in Delhi

India · Population: 32,941,000 · Cost Index: 28/100

Cost of Living in Delhi

India · Asia

Delhi is India's sprawling capital territory, blending ancient history with modern development. It is one of the most affordable major capitals in the world.

32,941,000

Population

28

Cost Index

48

Safety Index

45

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $1,150 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Delhi

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person
$1,150
per month
Couple
$1,730
per month
Family of 4
$2,420
per month
Student
$860
per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Delhi, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $520.00
1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$400.00
1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$200.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$1,000.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$480.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $2.53
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)
$1.80
Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)
$12.00
McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)
$3.50
Milk (1 liter)(per liter)
$0.70
Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)
$0.45
Rice (1 kg)(per kg)
$0.65
Eggs (12)(per dozen)
$1.10
Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)
$2.80
Apples (1 kg)(per kg)
$1.80
Banana (1 kg)(per kg)
$0.50

Transportation

Avg: $2.85
Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)
$12.00
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)
$0.25
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)
$0.50
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)
$0.30
Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)
$1.20

Utilities

Avg: $17.50
Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)
$40.00
Mobile Phone Plan(per month)
$3.50
Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)
$9.00

Healthcare

Avg: $6.83
Doctor Visit(per visit)
$7.00
Dentist Visit(per visit)
$10.00
Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)
$3.50

Entertainment

Avg: $6.33
Fitness Club Monthly(per month)
$18.00
Cinema Ticket(per ticket)
$3.00
Cappuccino(per cup)
$1.80
Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)
$2.50

Clothing

Avg: $31.33
Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)
$28.00
Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)
$16.00
Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)
$50.00

Popular Delhi comparisons

Frequently asked questions about Delhi

Is Delhi expensive to live in?
Delhi has a cost of living index of 28 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it one of the more affordable cities we track.
How much money do you need to live in Delhi?
A single person needs an estimated $1,150 per month to live in Delhi, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.
What is the cost of living index in Delhi?
Delhi's cost of living index is 28 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.
What is quality of life like in Delhi?
Delhi scores 45 out of 100 for quality of life and 48 out of 100 for safety in our index.

Data & sources

As an independent cross-check, the World Bank puts the overall price level in India at 24 relative to the United States (=100) in 2024. View source

Cost figures on this site are independent estimates, cross-referenced with public data sources including World Bank, Numbeo, Eurostat, OECD.

Compare Delhi with another city

See how Delhi stacks up against any other city in our database.

Quick Facts

Currency
INR
Language
Hindi
Cost Index
28/100
Safety Index
48/100
Quality of Life
45/100

Data last updated: . Prices are approximate and shown in USD.

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