What is the Cost of Living in Bangalore?

Bangalore is India’s third most populous city, and considered as its economic and IT hub. It is a vibrant city where you can find a mix of traditional, modern and cosmopolitan lifestyle. The cost of living in Bangalore, or any other city, depends largely on one’s lifestyle and preferences – the costs may vary from very basic to very high-end depending on who you are and what you want. The means can also vary depending on accommodation type.

Bangalore is considered as one of the most livable cities in India – no wonder expats flock here, along with domestic and international tourists. Local people may find the cost of living in Bangalore to be very affordable, while foreigners may complain about it being too high.

Overall, the cost of living in Bangalore ranges from INR 10,000 to over one lakh per month, depending on the place where one lives and the type of lifestyle they want to lead. Here, we look at some of the factors that can determine the cost of living in Bangalore.

Housing

Accommodation costs in Bangalore vary widely based on location, size and type of room and house you are looking for. You can rent an unfurnished or semi-furnished single room for about INR 3,000-4,000 per month in outer areas like Marathahalli or Hebbal. For greater convenience, you can rent furnished flats in areas close to the city centre, such as Koramangala or Indiranagar and they can cost anywhere between INR 10,000 to 40,000 per month and more. How much you would spend on monthly rent depends on the size of the house you are looking for and which area.

Popular rental areas in Bangalore are generally more expensive due to higher demand for housing. Prime areas such as Whitefield and Bellandur will be costlier than areas like HSR Layout and Basavanagudi.

Utilities

You will have to pay for your utilities such as water, electricity and internet depending on your usage. You would also need to pay for garbage disposal separately. The charges for your basic utilities may range from INR 1,500 to 4,000 per month depending on the level of usage. If you are using air conditioning, those charges may further go up.

Food and Groceries

The cost of food largely depends on where you would shop and what groceries you buy. The food courts of malls like Phoenix Market City may cost much higher than a local store. The prices at a local feast may be reasonable and falling in between these two extremes comes vegetarian lifestyle cafes like Zhuprana at Church Street which serve healthy food such as salads and sandwiches made with fresh vegetables.

One may have to bear an average expense of INR 5,000-7,000 for food per month depending on the number of meals eaten outside and what kind of groceries purchased from stores.

Transportation

Bangalore provides many transportation options such as bus, auto rickshaw, cab hailing services such as Ola or Uber and personal car if you own it. The bus fare may start from INR 20-30 depending on your destination and routes that you take. Auto fares usually start from INR 20 for short distances. Ola and Uber also give reasonable fares for short rides. If you decide to buy a car it can cost you anywhere between INR 5 -12 lakhs based on the model you decide to buy and how much you use it.

If you are travelling within the city limits and using the public transport system – the transport cost may range from INR 1,500- 2,500 per month depending on how travelling that you do in a month.

Leisure

Leisure activities in Bangalore vary depending on whether you choose high-end activities or go for cheaper alternatives like visiting parks or temples. You may have to pay entrance fares to several hi-tech amusement parks such as Wonder La water park or Innovative Film City Studios which may range anywhere between INR 800 -2,000 per person. Movie tickets purchased online may cost anything between INR 200-400 per person depending on AC theatre or regular theatre they choose. If you are looking for cheap non-commercial options like spending time at Cubbon Park or temples like Infant Jesus Church then there will be no additional cost involved.

Overall, the cost of living in Bangalore can vary anywhere between INR 10,000 to over one lakh per month depending on one’s lifestyle and preferences –so based on your situation, make sure you assess costs across all categories with your current needs before moving to the city and consider additional or unexpected expenses for various services that offer convenience aspect – healthcare, laundry and house help etc.. That way, you will be able to estimate exactly how much your monthly expenses will add up too!