Cost of Living

Sannihitha Ponaka •

Updated on 24 Oct, 2023

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Which city in India has the lowest cost of living?
What salary is considered rich in India?
Which Indian city is costly?
Which is the safest city in India?
What’s the average salary in India?

Which city in India has the lowest cost of living?

With work from home becoming a new factor, shifting to new places to save up on living costs is being considered as an option. While people in Mumbai usually complain of high rents, there are other cities in the country that are affordable.

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Delhi

Delhi, the capital city, is one of the most affordable cities in India. In terms of housing, it is cheaper than in Mumbai. Moreover, the city has huge open places, better job opportunities, budget friendly transport, and living here is pocket friendly. Furthermore, Delhi is ranked as one of the cheapest places in the world.

Bangalore

The corporate hub of India is shockingly one of the cheapest cities to live in. The housing is quite affordable, and food and entertainment are available at low cost. Moreover, the year round pleasant temperature is a plus point and makes the city one of the most liveable cities in India.

Chennai

The capital city of the land of temples is known for its inexpensive rental housing. Moreover, the mortgages are only a fraction of the total monthly income of an individual. The city also has low-cost food and entertainment making is very affordable. Its rich culture, top educational institutes, excellent job opportunities and the long stretch of beaches make it a good option to stay.

Kolkata

The colonial city developed by the British is one of the earliest metropolitan cities in India. Despite this, the city is one of the most affordable cities in the country. The food, entertainment, and housing all are pocket friendly here. The city is also a host for rich culture, theatre and arts.

What salary is considered rich in India?

The definition of rich is very subjective. Some people might consider earning INR 10 lacs per annum as rich; for others, it might be more than INR 20 lacs. Different people measure being rich in different ways. For example, some might consider having properties, real estate and other assets as being rich. While others may consider having a hefty take home package as rich. Therefore, the entire concept of being considered as rich is very subjective and opinion biased.

Earning INR 50,000 per month in a tier 4 town or city is considered rich. While earning INR 1,00,000 a month in tier 2 cities can be considered as rich. However, this income may not be considered rich in a metro or Tier I city. Earning a couple or several lacs/month may qualify for being rich.

Hence, there is no definite salary figure that one should earn for being considered as rich.

Which Indian city is costly?

India is the 7^th largest country and a leader in the international business. About 35% to 40% of India’s population lives in metropolitan cities and urban areas. The expanding workforce, ease of doing business, rise in job opportunities, and overall national development all contribute and add up to the increasing quality of life.

Mumbai is one of the costliest city in India. It is the business and entertainment capital of India. Mumbai tops the chart as per the cost of living plus rent index. One of the reasons for Mumbai being so expensive is the lack of space and growing population. The demand forces the housing rates to go sky-high.

The living expenses are so expensive that for a family of four it would cost INR 82,000 per month excluding house rent. In comparison to the global cities, Mumbai is more expensive than living in Seattle or Frankfurt.

Following Mumbai, the next costly city to live in is Delhi. Followed by Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Pune.

Which is the safest city in India?

Kolkata is one of the safest cities for women in India as per the data recently released by the National Crime Record Board (NCRB). Kolkata recorded the least number of sexual assaults and zero cases of sexual harassment. In 2019, Kolkata had 14 cases of sexual assault, and all cases are from victims above 18 years of age. The main reason for just a low number of good policing and citizens who are ready to come forward to help people. Out of 19 metro cities, Kolkata emerged as the safest city in India for women. Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Patna in Bihar follow Kolkata and are one of the safer cities in India.

What’s the average salary in India?

The average salary in India is around INR 32,000. It ranges from INR 8,000 to INR 1,43,000. The actual salary can be lower than INR 8,000 and higher than INR 1,43,000. The average salary is includes housing, transport and other benefits.