Mumbai, Delhi Most Expensive Cities to Live In; Kolkata Cheapest

New Delhi: Mumbai continues to be the most expensive city in India for expats, Mercer's 2024 Cost of Living Survey showed.  Released on June 17, the survey, which assessed living costs in over 400 cities globally, ranked Mumbai 136th worldwide, a significant jump from its previous position. In Asia, Mumbai is now the 21st most expensive city, with New Delhi at 30th.

Globally, Hong Kong remains the most expensive city. Among Indian cities, New Delhi is ranked 164th, followed by Chennai at 189th, Bengaluru at 195th, Hyderabad at 202nd, Pune at 205th, and Kolkata at 207th. Notably, New Delhi and Pune have risen in the rankings, while Chennai and Bengaluru have fallen.

Expat housing costs have risen sharply, with Delhi seeing the highest increase at 12-15%, followed by Mumbai at 6-8%, Bengaluru at 3-6%, and Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai at 2-4%. Kolkata experienced the smallest increase, under 2%.

Delhi offers the lowest costs for alcohol and tobacco, while Chennai has seen a 20% price hike over the past year. Mumbai has the highest transportation costs, followed by Bengaluru.

Kolkata provides the most affordable prices for milk, dairy products, bread, beverages, oils, fruits, and vegetables, with Pune coming next.

Additionally, Mumbai and Pune lead in high energy and utility costs. Mumbai is the most expensive city for personal care items such as cosmetics and toiletries, with Chennai also being costly and Kolkata the most affordable.

Rahul Sharma, India's Global Mobility Leader at Mercer, remarked, “Despite global economic challenges, India has largely remained resilient. Even with Mumbai's rise in rankings, the overall affordability of Indian cities continues to be a significant advantage for multinational organizations and Indian companies aiming to attract global talent.”