Beach town in Kerala, India
Cost of living in Varkala
How much a month costs in Varkala
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $394–623 (₹38,000–60,000).
Prices in Varkala
Typical 2026 ranges in INR, rounded. US$ 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) | ₹7,000–14,000 | $73–145 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ₹500–1,000 | $5.2–10.4 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ₹2,500–6,000 | $26–62 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ₹100–200 | $1.0–2.1 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ₹400–1,000 | $4.2–10.4 |
| Cappuccino | ₹120–250 | $1.2–2.6 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ₹200–400 | $2.1–4.2 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ₹10–30 | $0.10–0.31 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ₹100–250 | $1.0–2.6 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ₹350–600 | $3.6–6.2 |
Value for money: 96/100
A value score of 96/100 means Varkala gives more quality of life per dollar than 95% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 43/100. It's the 18th 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 Varkala
Similar safety, lower cost, in South Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | India | $291–467 |
| Darjeeling | India | $332–519 |
| Jaisalmer | India | $311–519 |
| Pushkar | India | $311–498 |
| Munnar | India | $332–519 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Varkala?
About $208–291 on a lean budget, $394–623 for a comfortable month and $934–1,560 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Varkala?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ₹12,000–25,000 ($125–259) a month in the center and ₹7,000–14,000 ($73–145) outside it.
How much does food cost in Varkala?
A local meal is ₹100–200 ($1.0–2.1); a mid-range restaurant is ₹400–1,000 ($4.2–10.4) per person.
Is India expensive?
Prices in India are about 23% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Varkala
Going to Varkala solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Varkala meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Kerala Tourism: Varkala
- Indian Railways (IRCTC)
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.