Mumbai vs New Delhi Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Mumbai vs New Delhi: everyday costs favor New Delhi (~4% CPI gap), housing index favors New Delhi, wage stretch favors New Delhi. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
New Delhi
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Transport (50% gap, Mumbai ahead); Housing (14% gap, New Delhi ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $304 lower in New Delhi than in Mumbai (~43% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $304 (favoring New Delhi).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | New Delhi | CPI 19.2 vs 20.1 (lower is better) |
| Housing | New Delhi | Rent index 9 vs 10.5 (lower is better) |
| Food | New Delhi | Groceries index 23.5 vs 24.2 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Mumbai | One-way ticket 20 vs 30 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | New Delhi | Utilities (85m²) 3200 vs 3500 (lower is better) |
| Internet | New Delhi | Internet 750 vs 800 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | New Delhi | Restaurant index 17.5 vs 18.5 (lower is better) |
| Salary | New Delhi | Avg net salary 58000 vs 55000 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | New Delhi | PP index 62 vs 55 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Transport: Mumbai leads with a 50% gap.
One-way ticket 20 vs 30 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: New Delhi — Lower housing / rent index (14% gap).
- Families: New Delhi — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors New Delhi; purchasing power favors New Delhi.
- Remote Workers: New Delhi — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors New Delhi (~4% gap).
- Budget Living: New Delhi — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- New Delhi is the overall cost winner on CPI (~4% lower everyday-cost index than Mumbai).
- Housing: New Delhi leads on rent index (14% gap).
- Food / groceries: New Delhi is lower (3% gap).
- Purchasing power: New Delhi scores higher (13% gap).
- Largest category gap: Transport (50%), favoring Mumbai.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$304 cheaper in New Delhi.
Analysis
Mumbai versus New Delhi is not a single number. With a 4% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with New Delhi, while housing follows New Delhi's rent index. Purchasing power (55 vs 62) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-01
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Real
On-page labels for this view: Real · Real.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.