Mumbai vs Tokyo
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Mumbai
Tokyo
The Verdict
Mumbai is 59.8% less expensive than Tokyo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Mumbai would need approximately $186,364 in Tokyo to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Mumbai has the same purchasing power as $186,364 in Tokyo.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tokyo equals $30,183 in Mumbai.
Living in Mumbai vs Tokyo
Housing Costs
Mumbai's housing index of 30 is lower Tokyo's 98, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $450,000. The $285,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,528 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $475/mo in Mumbai compared to $1,225/mo in Tokyo, a monthly difference of $750.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 28 in Mumbai and 88 in Tokyo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $133/month in Mumbai vs $418/month in Tokyo. Mumbai offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $3420/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 18 in Mumbai and 85 in Tokyo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $72 in Mumbai vs $340 in Tokyo. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 18 in Mumbai and 62 in Tokyo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 44-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $9,500 in Mumbai and $42,000 in Tokyo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $28,788 and $51,220 respectively. Tokyo residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $222/month to housing in Mumbai vs $980/month in Tokyo. In Mumbai, median rent of $475/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Tokyo, median rent of $1,225/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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