Apart from being the capital of India, New Delhi is a city that embraces culture and diversification. It is one of India’s best metropolises because it offers affordable housing, good schools, excellent healthcare services, and great infrastructure. When it comes to the cost of living in Delhi vs. Bangalore and Mumbai, it is significantly lower over here. Although the rent is cheaper in cities like Pune and Hyderabad, the capital city offers amazing opportunities and facilities to enhance your overall lifestyle.
Before you decide on your budget, take a look at the different associated cost factors. It is important to figure out whether renting or buying a house in Delhi suits you more. This table reflects the cost differences for various options:
| Property type | Renting a house (monthly) | Buying a house |
| Affordable house | Less than ₹15,000 | Up to ₹40 lakh |
| Mid-range house | ₹15,000 to ₹40,000 | Up to ₹2 crore |
| Luxury house | ₹60,000 or more | ₹3 crore or more |
You will be surprised to know that the cost of living in Delhi is lower than in Mumbai, while the average salary there is better than the latter. As per Randstad Insights, the average annual Cost To Company (CTC) across all functions and levels in the capital city is ₹9.9 lakh. It is lower than Pune and Bangalore but higher than Mumbai.
The cost of living in both New Delhi and Old Delhi depends on your rent, utilities and residential location, among other factors. Read on to get a better idea.
Delhi offers varied choices when it comes to accommodation. You can pick a place according to your budget and lifestyle. If you are a student with minimal requirements, living as a paying guest (PG) with roommates will be the most value-for-money option. You can find a room for as low as ₹6,500, which makes the cost of living in Delhi for students pocket-friendly.
If you want more privacy and comfort, you can rent a 1 BHK for ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 a month in the most expensive area in Delhi like Hauz Khas. Renting a 2 BHK over here will cost you ₹40,000 to ₹45,000 per month. Vasant Kunj is a more affordable locality, offering 1 BHKs for ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 a month. Vasant Kunj also has studio apartments that you can rent for a monthly cost of ₹10,000 to ₹12,000. A 2 BHK in this area costs around ₹35,000 per month.
If you are seeking inexpensive options, look for a house in places, such as Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Lajpat Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, and Rohini. These are budget-friendly areas in Delhi, where you can rent a 1 BHK for ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per month, and a 2 BHK for around ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 a month. A house in Mayur Vihar will grant you easy access to every other part of Delhi and Noida, as it is well connected by road and metro. In most places, you are required to pay two months’ rent in advance, which is cheaper than many other cities.
Delhi’s Metro railway system is the city’s lifeline, and it connects every corner of the capital. So, you can conveniently travel anywhere in AC metros for not more than ₹60. You can get a smart card for your daily commute, as it offers discounts and is a more cost-friendly option. You may keep aside ₹1,500 every month for traveling in the metro. The city also has cab services and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, ensuring hassle-free transportation.
If you enjoy street food, Delhi is a paradise for you. But, as you cannot survive only on that, consider hiring a maid-cum-cook who will prepare your meals at home. It will cost you around ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 a month, which is a healthier choice anyway. You can also order food from restaurants every day, but that will cost at least ₹9,000 every month.
Groceries are readily available in stores, and you can also order them online. Regular groceries should not cost you over ₹4,000 a month.
Electricity charges in Delhi are the least expensive in India. The first 200 units of electricity usage are free here, and 400 units will cost ₹1,075 monthly. But remember that you cannot avoid using the AC during summer, which will shoot up the units consumed. The Internet costs about ₹1,000 a month, which is similar to other cities.
If you are looking for adventure sports in Delhi, you have many choices. These include paragliding, go-karting, paintball, rock climbing, and bungee jumping. These can cost anything between ₹500 and ₹1,500 per person.
Delhi has many historical monuments such as the Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, India Gate, and Qutab Minar. Apart from the sightseeing options in the city, you can easily rent a car and go on weekend trips to Jaipur, Jim Corbett National Park, Agra, Kasauli, and Rishikesh. The cost mainly depends on the location and food.
Whether you are determining the cost of living in Delhi for bachelors, couples, or families, do not forget to include the entertainment expenses. Watching a movie in the multiplex will cost you around ₹300 to ₹400 per person, and if you are planning to eat out later at a mid-range restaurant, you will need to shell out another ₹1,500 for two people.
Childcare costs depend on the age of your children. For kindergartens and primary schools, you need to pay around ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 a month. International schools for higher education in Delhi cost ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2 lakh per year.
With a wide range of options, you can shop to your heart’s content in Delhi. If you are looking for branded products, consider shopping at Connaught Place and Saket. But if you want to shop for reasonable yet trendy clothes, accessories, and other products, you can check out the Sarojini Nagar market, Chandni Chowk, and Lajpat Nagar market. Shopping in these places should not cost you more than ₹2,000 a month.
The living cost in Delhi for students and bachelors is quite low, as there are many PG options. They charge around ₹6,500 a month. You can also rent a 1 BHK in areas like Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Lajpat Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, and Rohini for a monthly cost of ₹10,000 to ₹15,000.
If you settle for affordable housing, it is possible to live in Delhi at a total monthly cost of ₹20,000 to ₹25,000. In a more expensive area, the overall cost can be ₹35,000 or more.
Families with children will need a 2 BHK in Delhi, which can be rented for ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 a month in inexpensive areas. In posher localities, you need to pay a monthly rent of ₹40,000 to ₹45,000 for a 2 BHK. Add another ₹10,000 to your budget for groceries and utilities.
The capital of India is one of the finest cities in the country in terms of infrastructure, healthcare, and other facilities. If you plan your budget right, you can lead a good life in Delhi.
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