Cost of living in Delhi

India · South Asia · INR · Very cheap

For long-stay travellers and remote workers in Delhi, the realistic monthly figure is roughly $2,130 all-in. That assumes a long-stay rental (~60% of nightly mid-range accommodation), local food prices, public transit and miscellaneous — but excludes flights, visas, and tourist-style activities. For a comparable short-trip figure, see the Delhi travel cost page.

Monthly breakdown

Line itemMonthly (USD)
Long-stay rent equivalent$990
Food (eating out + groceries mix)$690
Local transport$210
Miscellaneous$240
All-in monthly$2,130

Local currency: INR. FX snapshot: 2025-05.

Short-trip context

For comparison, a week-long tourist visit at the mid-range tier in shoulder season runs roughly $756 for one person — a much higher per-day rate than the long-stay number above, because hotels charge nightly rates, tourists rely on taxis more, and short-trip activities are bundled into every day.

  • Tourist day rate (mid-range, shoulder): $108/day
  • Long-stay implied day rate: $71/day

Comparable cities

  • Cheaper alternative: Kathmandu — ~$1,854/mo
  • Similar cost: Chiang Mai — ~$2,130/mo
  • Pricier alternative: Cairo — ~$2,346/mo