Cost of living in Delhi

 

“If the world is the body, Delhi is its life” believes Mirza Ghalib. Delhi has acquired this stature with the help of the facilities it gives to its people. Delhi had served as the capital to various kingdoms and empires throughout history and is currently the capital of India. At present, it is the second wealthiest city in India, and home to 18 billionaires!

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According to the 2016 census, the population of Delhi increased to 26 million from 11 million in 2011. With this immensely growing population, grow the commercial, financial, personal, and social needs, especially youth. Being the capital city of India, Delhi has taken care of every demand. The typical Indian cuisine foods and the best continental food in the country, being the party hub for the youth and not giving up its Indian culture and ethos for the elderly, it has given its best to every person living there. There are numerous jobs in Delhi. The capital city is also famous for its age-old monuments and shopping arcades.

However, all of this comes at a growing expense as the cost of living in Delhi per month has become expensive. This article will guide you through all the expenses you must be willing to know if you are planning to shift to Delhi, alone or with family.

1) Accommodation in Delhi

Compared to the other big cities in India, Delhi offers you varied accommodation options. You can choose to live in any locality, be it cheap and affordable or posh and luxurious, depending on your need for privacy or budget limitations. The living expenses in Delhi for students depend on the location you prefer. This is the list of places and their average living costs in Delhi that you will require while searching for rental space in the capital.

Renting a House

Localities	1 BHK	2 BHK	3 BHK
Rohini	7k – 13k	12k – 25k	22k – 30k
Burari	5k – 7k	7k – 10k	10k – 15k
Uttam Nagar	5k – 10k	8.5k – 14k	13.5k – 16k
Krishna Nagar	10k – 16k	25k	30k
Jangpura	15k – 35k	16k – 37.5k	60k – 1lac+
Sultanpur	7.5k – 9k	12k – 17k	13k – 18k
Chhattarpur	8k – 10k	12.5k – 18k	18k – 23k
Pitampura	12k – 17k	15k – 25k	38k – 45k
GTB Nagar	5k – 17k	16k – 20k	20k – 25k
Shalimar Bagh	9k – 18k	17.5k – 28k	30k – 40k
Lajpat Nagar	15k – 25k	25k – 35k	45k – 60k
Ashok Vihar	11k – 16.5k	16k – 30k	30k – 45k
Saket	8.5k – 17k	18k – 35k	30k – 55k
Safdarjung	25k – 35k	35k – 45k	50k – 1lac+
Hauz Khas	30k – 45k	32k – 45k	70k – 1lac+
Shanti Niketan	40k – 50k	50k – 80k	80k – 1lac+
Greater Kailash	18k – 35k	40k – 50k	60k- 80k

2) Affordable PG/Hostel for students & bachelors

YOUR-SPACE – Student Housing Community

your-space has four pillars of Safety, Comfort, Community, and Health, which respect and address the needs of students who study away from home, providing them with an affordable living space in Delhi with a comfortable living space nearest to their academic institutions. Keeping in mind the safety and comfort of students aged 16-25, Your-Space has set up its properties in various posh localities, providing you with not just a la living space and luxurious amenities. We always have a question in our mind ‘How much is the living cost in Delhi?’ This list is an answer to the Delhi cost of living.

The cost of living in Delhi for a bachelor is always reasonable.

Property	Nearest to	Rent starting at (inclusive of meals and all facilities)
Shakti Nagar – North Campus (Boys)	SRCC, St. Stephen, Hansraj, KMC, Hindu	20,000/- INR
Kailash Colony – A Block (Girls)	Lady Shri Ram College, Gargi College, Kamala Nehru College, Jamia Millia Islamia	20,000/- INR
Bungalow Road – North Campus (Girls)	SRCC, St. Stephen, Hansraj, Miranda, KMC, Hindu	17,000/- INR
Shivalik Enclave (Girls & Boys)	Bhagat Singh, Aurobindo, Deshbandhu	15000/- INR
Saket – B7 (Girls & Boys)	Bhagat Singh, Aurobindo, Deshbandhu	15,000/- INR
DTU (Boys)	DTU	12,000/- INR
Qutub Institutional Area (Girls & Boys)	Fore, IMI, IIFT, Indian School of Public Policy	15,000/- INR
Greater Kailash – C Block (Girls)	Lady Shri Ram College, Gargi College, Kamala Nehru College, Jamia Millia Islamia	20,000/- INR
Kailash Colony – J Block (Girls)	Lady Shri Ram College, Gargi College, Kamala Nehru College, Jamia Millia Islamia	21,000/- INR
Siri Fort Road (Girls)	Lady Shri Ram College, Gargi College, Kamala Nehru College	21,000/- INR

PG/Hostel in Delhi

Household Utilities

3) Groceries

Delhi monthly expense of grocery shopping is almost the same for every city. You can always go to any nearby grocery store in Delhi and get your household items in unit quantities for roughly Rs. 1300 – 1600 every month.

Delhiites, specifically working professionals, also use online platforms to get their groceries on a daily basis. The most used online store is Big Basket, which would not cost you more than Rs. 300 on each delivery. The other popularly used online grocery stores are Grofers and Nature’s Basket. So, you can estimate the monthly expenses in Delhi for the working professionals who cook on their own.

4) Food

Delhi streets are always filled with food joints and eateries, where you can go with your friends or family, and still not dig a hole in your pocket. It comes as a perk in Delhi living cost as it is cheap on pockets and delicious for our mouth. Street food is always an open option for you if nothing else. However, if you are health conscious or prefer not to spend money on street food, the best way is to cook by yourself.

For working professionals and bachelors, you can also hire a maid/cook either personally or through such agencies that provide services like baby care, part-time cook, full-time cook, full-time maid, part-time maid. They will charge you around Rs. 700 – 2000 depending on the kind of service and/or the number of meals you ask for. Prachi maid Bureau, Maid placement agency are a few of them.

For working professionals and bachelors, you can also hire a maid/cook either personally or through such agencies that provide services like baby care, part-time cook, full-time cook, full-time maid, part-time maid. They will charge you around Rs. 700 – 2000 depending on the kind of service and/or the number of meals you ask for. Prachi maid Bureau and Maid placement agency are a few of them. There is also an option of hiring a tiffin wala for students if they barely stay at home. The agencies can cost you roughly Rs. 1500 – 3000. Dilli Dabbe Wala and Tiffin Service Dabba Wala are a few agencies. The cost of living in Delhi for students per month will differ depending on your option.

Otherwise, online food delivery apps like Swiggy and Zomato are always a tap away. These cost about Rs. 300 – 400 on each delivery, considering the time, traffic, and delivery charges.

5) Electricity

The electricity tariff rates all over India are Rs. 3 per unit consumption. This means the consumption of 200 units every month would cost Rs. 600 on average. Since having an AC means consuming more power, Rs.1000 would be your minimum monthly electricity bill out of all the average cost of living in Delhi for couples.

6) Television

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) allows viewers to select the channels that they would want to watch and pay MRP for the respective channels. Cost of each channel ranges from Rs. 1 – 20 depending on the broadcasters of channels.

You can also opt for Dish TV or Tata Sky and pay for the channels that you want.

If you are a big fan of OTT platforms, you can instead buy an amazon fire stick for your TV or your TV at a one-time cost of 2500-4000 and binge-watch Netflix and Prime on weekends. New Delhi’s living cost also includes this expense.

7) Childcare

Preschools like 360-degree kids and Kids Castle would not cost you more than Rs. 4000 annually. Gradually, the cost for your children’s schooling and education may increase depending upon the kind of curriculum and the school.

For those who hardly stay at home and cannot look after their babies in the daytime, day-care and crèche institutions in Delhi charge you hourly. Your average cost of living in Delhi per month can be anywhere between Rs 3000 – 5000 for institutions

You can also hire a nanny from any of the available babysitter services in the city. You can choose to ask for either part-time or full-time services depending upon your needs. For 24 hours, they can charge a monthly fee of roughly Rs. 15000, and Rs. 10000 for 8-10 hours.

8) Transport

Delhi is one of the cheapest cities for public transport within the city. Delhi’s cost of living, when it comes to travel by means of public transport, is the cheapest. For travel inside the city, you can opt to choose buses, metro, auto-rickshaws, and cycle-rickshaws. So, cost of travel in Delhi can be quite reasonable.

Metro is the best way one can travel in Delhi. It is cheap and convenient. The minimum fare for the passengers is Rs. 8 to 10, and the maximum goes up to Rs. 30 to 50. If you travel every day, you can choose to buy a smart card which costs around 150/- for 3 days.

There are also cycle services offered at metro stations, where you can rent a cycle at Rs. 10 for 2 hours.

If your destination is still far, you can always choose to travel in an auto, personal or shared, or a public bus. Autos can be expensive and as per the drivers’ demand. Buses are another cheapest way to travel for under Rs. 15. You can also enjoy an Ola or Uber ride on days you want to escape the heat and public. So, the living in Delhi cost for students is pretty reasonable.

Entertainment

9) Sports & Leisure

Delhi has many fitness clubs and gyms that will cost you around Rs. 2000-3000 per month. Other extra-curricular activities like training in sports, or adventurous activities like Ice skating will not cost you more than Rs. 1000.

You can also use health and fitness apps like the Cult fit and Daily Yoga, which can cost you around Rs. 300 – 500 every month as your expense in Delhi.

10) Shopping

Delhi has numerous options when it comes to shopping. You can choose to go to a mall or shop on the street without compromising on the quality or brand. For street shopping, you can head out to areas like Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market, Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, etc. and shop as much in just under Rs. 5000. These come under affordable accommodation in Delhi for shopping purposes. The price may vary and increase if you shop in a mall.

FAQs on Delhi

1) What is the cost of living in Delhi?

The average cost of living in New Delhi can be approximately Rs. 15,000-20,000 every month and that for couples can be Rs.25,000-50,000. More people will be the needs, and the higher will be the expenses. For a family of four living together, you might have to spend Rs. 50,000 – 1lac or more. If you’re good at managing money you can easily afford the cost of living in India. Also, the rent varies greatly depending on whether you live in a budget area or an expensive location.

Description	Family	Bachelor
Accommodation	30,000	10,000
Groceries	4,000	2,000
Food	6,000	1,500
Electricity	2,000	1,000
Television	500	500
Gas	600	200
Schooling and Childcare	30,000	—
Transport	2,500	1,000
Sports and Leisure	3,500	1,500
Movies	2,000	500
Shopping	10,000	2,000

2) Is Delhi expensive to live?

Compared to other Indian cities, Delhi flat for rent is expensive if we see it in terms of areas to live in Delhi. But, you can always figure out how you save money in this city by choosing a cheaper rental home or PG, eating at home instead of outside, and travelling by metro instead of a cab. In this way, you can control your Delhi living expenses.

3) What salary is needed to live comfortably in Delhi?

That depends on your lifestyle and preferences. A salary between 30,000-and 50,000 is good enough for you to live comfortably though and manage the cost of living in Delhi, India.

4) Is Delhi a good place to live?

This answer will vary from person to person. Some people love Delhi due to it being the capital city and being a place full of opportunities. You will love it if you have a good place to live in Delhi. If you love the Delhi weather, food and culture, Delhi won’t disappoint you!

5)What are some famous hangout places in Delhi?

Delhi has a variety of shopping malls, cafes and restaurants for all. Some of the famous tourist attractions include the Red Fort, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate and Qutub Minar, all of which are beautiful historical locations to spend quality time.

6) What are some good colleges in Delhi?

Delhi has many great institutions such as IIT- Delhi and colleges like SRCC, LSR, KMC and Jamia Islamia. While living in Delhi you can study at some of the finest institutes in India.