A Breakdown of the Cost of Living in India

India is generally thought of as having a low cost of living. According to Numbeo, the cost of consumer prices in India are 65% lower than in the UK, and rent costs are 82% lower.

But is that low cost of living consistent throughout India, or does it vary depending on the location? Statista has put together a cost of living Index for the leading cities of India, so we can take a look in more detail at how the most expensive and least expensive places.

Noida is the most expensive city in India, with the highest cost of living index at 27.7. Noida, standing for the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, is located in the Buddha Nagar district in the state of Utta Pradesh. It’s a satellite city of Delhi and is part of the National Capital Region.

Noida is a popular city in India. It has won awards for best city in the state and best city for housing in the country. It is also one of the greenest cities in India, with nearly 50% of green cover, and is considered one of the cleanest cities. Noida is considered to be well connected and well-planned, with quality infrastructure. The city has become a hub for software and mobile development companies, including Microsoft and Barclays, creating jobs and contributing to the economy.

It’s all these factors that contribute to the higher cost of living. As demand rises, so do prices. To compare, Jaipur ranks in the middle of the index, at 23.6. Consumer prices in Noida compared to Jaipur are 11.8% higher and rent is 28% higher. When compared to one of the cheapest cities, Coimbatore, which has a cost of living index of 21, Noida is 23% higher for consumer goods and 30% higher for rent costs.

Gurgaon is the second most expensive city in India, with a cost of living index of 26.9. Gurgaon is located in the state of Haryana, on the Delhi-Haryana border. Like Noida, it is a Delhi satellite city and part of the National Capital Region of India.

Gurgaon is a hub of industry – it’s the second-largest hub for information technology and the third-largest for financial and banking in the country. It’s also one of the most popular locations in India for medical tourism. Many of India’s largest companies have their headquarters in Gurgaon, as well as local offices for many international businesses. It’s the 8^th largest city in India in terms of total wealth, despite being the 56^th largest in population.

Gurgaon’s higher cost of living is most explicitly seen in the rental prices. When compared to Jaipur, with its moderate cost-of-living, Gurgaon is 18% higher for consumer goods and a huge 116% higher for rent. When compared to Coimbatore, at the lower end of the cost of living index, Gurgaon is 30.9% higher for consumer goods and 120% higher for rent costs. Thanks to the booming economy and plentiful job opportunities, competition for accommodation is high, which pushes prices higher too.

Mumbai is the third most expensive city in India, with a cost of living index at 25.9. Located on India’s west coast, it is the capital city of the state of Maharashtra.

Mumbai is the most populated city of India, and the financial, commercial, and entertainment centre of the country. It is a global city, also known as an alpha city, due to its role in the global economic network. Mumbai generates over 6% of India’s GDP and accounts for 25% of industrial output and 70% of the maritime trade in the country. Many of India’s major companies and international cooperations have offices and headquarters in Mumbai, plus premier scientific institutions.

Like Gurgaon, it is the rent prices that show the stark difference in cost of living when compared to other locations in India. Mumbai’s rent costs are 370% higher than in Jaipur, and 378% higher than in Coimbatore. Consumer prices are 11% higher in Mumbai than in Jaipur, and 23% higher than in Coimbatore.

Bengaluru ranks fourth on the cost of living index, at 25.6. Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, is the capital and largest city of the state of Karnataka, in southern India. Bengaluru is the third most populus city in India and the largest in the south of the country. It is known as India’s “garden city” thanks to the many parks and green spaces, and the moderate climate the city enjoys throughout the year.

Bengaluru is considered to be a particularly fast-growing metropolis and many large multinational companies have established headquarters in the city. It’s estimated to be one of the most productive metro areas of India, particularly focused on high-technology, heavy manufacturing. The city is also known as “India’s Silicon Valley” due to the number of software companies that operate from the location.

Bengaluru rent prices demonstrate the difference between the locations in the middle and lower end of the cost of living index. Rent in Bengaluru is 171% higher than in Jaipur and is 175% higher than in Coimbatore. Higher costs continue throughout other factors; consumer prices are 27% higher in Bengaluru than Jaipur, and 40% higher than in Coimbatore.

Hyderabad ranks fifth on the cost of living index, at 25.4. Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the state of Telangana in South India. It is the fourth-most populus city in the country.

Hyderabad is most notable for its contributions to arts, culture, entertainment, and fashion. UNESCO named it as a creative city for gastronomy due to the quality of cuisine produced in the city. The Telugu film industry, which is the highest-grossing film industry in India, is based in the city. It also has a productive pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, plus many major information technology companies have offices in the city, such as Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Google.

The differences cost of living in Hyderabad when compared to other locations in India is less pronounced than the previous cities on this list. Consumer prices in Hyderabad are just 8% higher when compared to Jaipur, and rent is 55% higher – still a difference, but not the 300% plus increase we have seen from places like Mumbai.

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