Cost of Living in Delhi
India
Comfortable budget (single)
$2,046/month
Range $1,292–$2,046/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Delhi?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Delhi for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$2.5
flat white at cafe
Beer
$3.5
pint at pub
Lunch
$10.5
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$255
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$57
monthly pass
Gym
$27
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $969–$1,508 | ↓ -39% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $512–$808 | ↓ -39% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $40–$78 | ↓ -39% |
| Internet & Mobile | $16–$27 | ↓ -39% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $205–$307 | ↓ -39% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $27–$48 | ↓ -40% |
| Coffee | $2–$3 | ↓ -37% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $51–$62 | ↓ -39% |
| Gym membership | $19–$35 | ↓ -39% |
| Cinema ticket | $8–$10 | ↓ -36% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Delhi — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$969–$1,508/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$7,900
Buy outside (per m²)
$4,340
Price-to-rent ratio
24×
Avg mortgage rate
8.6%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Delhi center at ~$7,900/m² with a 25y loan at 8.6% would cost roughly $3,849/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Delhi. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $1,000 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $1,650 | ❌ No |
| Marketing manager | $1,300 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $825 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $700 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Delhi.
Utilize the Delhi Metro and purchase a Delhi Metro Smart Card for efficient and affordable travel across the city.
For daily groceries and household items, explore local markets like INA Market or use online delivery services such as Blinkit for convenience.
Discover the vibrant cafes and boutiques in Hauz Khas Village for a relaxed evening out and cultural experiences.
Budget scenarios
Single
$1,292–$2,046/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,508/mo
- Groceries: ~$307/mo
- Transport: ~$62/mo
Couple
$2,046–$3,123/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,508/mo
- Groceries: ~$307/mo
- Transport: ~$62/mo
Family
$2,962–$4,577/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,508/mo
- Groceries: ~$307/mo
- Transport: ~$62/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Delhi Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,211–$1,885/mo
Delhi Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,066–$1,659/mo
Delhi Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $775–$1,206/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Government
- • History
- • Food
❌ Cons
- • Pollution
- • Sprawl
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Compare Delhi with another city
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.