Mountain town in Himachal Pradesh, India
Cost of living in Shimla
How much a month costs in Shimla
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $467–726 (₹45,000–70,000).
Prices in Shimla
Typical 2026 ranges in INR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | INR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | ₹12,000–25,000 | $125–259 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | ₹7,000–15,000 | $73–156 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ₹500–1,200 | $5.2–12.5 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ₹2,000–5,000 | $21–52 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ₹100–250 | $1.0–2.6 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ₹500–1,200 | $5.2–12.5 |
| Cappuccino | ₹150–300 | $1.6–3.1 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ₹200–400 | $2.1–4.2 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ₹10–40 | $0.10–0.42 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ₹200–450 | $2.1–4.7 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | ₹1,000–2,500 | $10–26 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ₹350–600 | $3.6–6.2 |
Value for money: 97/100
A value score of 97/100 means Shimla gives more quality of life per dollar than 96% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 56/100. It's the 28th most affordable of 47 places we cover in India.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across India
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | $291–467 | 100/100 |
| Pushkar | $311–498 | 99/100 |
| Jaisalmer | $311–519 | 99/100 |
| Darjeeling | $332–519 | 100/100 |
| Munnar | $332–519 | 99/100 |
| Alleppey | $342–540 | 98/100 |
| Amritsar | $363–571 | 98/100 |
| Jodhpur | $363–571 | 97/100 |
| Varkala | $394–623 | 96/100 |
| Varanasi | $394–674 | 92/100 |
| Dharamshala | $394–674 | 99/100 |
| Leh | $415–674 | 96/100 |
| Pondicherry | $415–674 | 99/100 |
| Rishikesh | $415–726 | 95/100 |
| Manali | $415–726 | 96/100 |
| Shimla | $467–726 | 97/100 |
| Agra | $467–830 | 79/100 |
| Palolem | $519–830 | 92/100 |
| Udaipur | $498–882 | 84/100 |
| Kolkata | $519–934 | 91/100 |
| Chennai | $571–934 | 91/100 |
| Anjuna | $571–934 | 81/100 |
| Jaipur | $571–986 | 74/100 |
| Kochi | $571–986 | 90/100 |
| Andaman Islands | $623–1,040 | 80/100 |
| Hyderabad | $674–1,140 | 82/100 |
| Goa | $726–1,250 | 76/100 |
| Delhi | $778–1,350 | 52/100 |
| Bangalore | $778–1,350 | 71/100 |
| Mumbai | $934–1,660 | 35/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Shimla
Similar safety, lower cost, in South Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | India | $291–467 |
| Darjeeling | India | $332–519 |
| Mysore | India | $363–571 |
| Jaisalmer | India | $311–519 |
| Pushkar | India | $311–498 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Shimla?
About $228–332 on a lean budget, $467–726 for a comfortable month and $1,040–1,870 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Shimla?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ₹12,000–25,000 ($125–259) a month in the center and ₹7,000–15,000 ($73–156) outside it.
How much does food cost in Shimla?
A local meal is ₹100–250 ($1.0–2.6); a mid-range restaurant is ₹500–1,200 ($5.2–12.5) per person.
Is India expensive?
Prices in India are about 23% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Shimla
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- IRCTC (toy train bookings)
- Airports Authority of India
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.