Seoul vs Ahmedabad Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Ahmedabad leads on CPI (14.7 vs 71.6, NYC=100), Ahmedabad leads on rent index, and Seoul leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Ahmedabad
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Transport (99% gap, Ahmedabad ahead); Utilities (99% gap, Ahmedabad ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $1,623 lower in Ahmedabad than in Seoul (~89% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $1,623 (favoring Ahmedabad).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Ahmedabad | CPI 14.7 vs 71.6 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Ahmedabad | Rent index 5 vs 47.9 (lower is better) |
| Food | Ahmedabad | Groceries index 18 vs 92.5 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Ahmedabad | One-way ticket 29.06 vs 2117.06 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Ahmedabad | Utilities (85m²) 835 vs 132204 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Ahmedabad | Internet 935.2 vs 64335.6 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Ahmedabad | Restaurant index 13 vs 68.5 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Seoul | Avg net salary 11003016 vs 336505 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Seoul | PP index 128.6 vs 65 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Transport: Ahmedabad leads with a 99% gap.
One-way ticket 29.06 vs 2117.06 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Ahmedabad — Lower housing / rent index (90% gap).
- Families: Ahmedabad — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Ahmedabad; purchasing power favors Seoul.
- Remote Workers: Ahmedabad — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Ahmedabad (~79% gap).
- Budget Living: Ahmedabad — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Ahmedabad is the overall cost winner on CPI (~79% lower everyday-cost index than Seoul).
- Housing: Ahmedabad leads on rent index (90% gap).
- Food / groceries: Ahmedabad is lower (81% gap).
- Purchasing power: Seoul scores higher (49% gap).
- Largest category gap: Transport (99%), favoring Ahmedabad.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$1,623 cheaper in Ahmedabad.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 71.6/14.7, rent 47.9/5, purchasing power 128.6/65. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Real
On-page labels for this view: Regional · 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.