New Delhi vs Chandigarh Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for New Delhi vs Chandigarh: everyday costs favor Chandigarh (~19% CPI gap), housing index favors Chandigarh, wage stretch favors Chandigarh. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Chandigarh
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (525% gap, Chandigarh ahead); Utilities (71% gap, Chandigarh ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $191 lower in Chandigarh than in New Delhi (~47% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $191 (favoring Chandigarh).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Chandigarh | CPI 15.5 vs 19.2 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Chandigarh | Rent index 5.5 vs 9 (lower is better) |
| Food | Chandigarh | Groceries index 19 vs 23.5 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Chandigarh | One-way ticket 29.06 vs 30 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Chandigarh | Utilities (85m²) 918.5 vs 3200 (lower is better) |
| Internet | New Delhi | Internet 750 vs 993.65 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Chandigarh | Restaurant index 14 vs 17.5 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Chandigarh | Avg net salary 362390 vs 58000 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Chandigarh | PP index 70 vs 62 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Chandigarh leads with a 525% gap.
Avg net salary 362390 vs 58000 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Chandigarh — Lower housing / rent index (39% gap).
- Families: Chandigarh — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Chandigarh; purchasing power favors Chandigarh.
- Remote Workers: Chandigarh — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Chandigarh (~19% gap).
- Budget Living: Chandigarh — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Chandigarh is the overall cost winner on CPI (~19% lower everyday-cost index than New Delhi).
- Housing: Chandigarh leads on rent index (39% gap).
- Food / groceries: Chandigarh is lower (19% gap).
- Purchasing power: Chandigarh scores higher (13% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (525%), favoring Chandigarh.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$191 cheaper in Chandigarh.
Analysis
New Delhi versus Chandigarh is not a single number. With a 19% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Chandigarh, while housing follows Chandigarh's rent index. Purchasing power (62 vs 70) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-11
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.