Cost of Living in Gujarat

When you think about Gujarat, India's leading industrial state and home to the country’s largest chemical and polymer manufacturing hubs. Also known as India’s manufacturing powerhouse, it’s where factories run nonstop, exports ship out daily, and workers from across the country come to build careers. But how much does it actually cost to live there? If you’re considering a move for a job in textiles, chemicals, or small-scale manufacturing, you need more than just a salary—you need to know what rent, food, transport, and utilities will eat up your paycheck.

Gujarat isn’t just about big plants and export quotas. It’s a state where Jamnagar, a city that produces over 80% of India’s petrochemicals and hosts giants like Reliance and Dahej, a major port and chemical processing zone drive the economy. These places aren’t quiet towns—they’re bustling industrial cities with high demand for labor, which means wages are often better than in other states. But so are housing costs. A one-bedroom apartment in Jamnagar or Surat can cost 30-50% more than in smaller towns, and if you’re near a factory or export hub, prices climb even higher. Utilities aren’t cheap either—power and water bills rise with industrial demand, and many workers pay extra for reliable generators or water tankers.

Food is surprisingly affordable. Local dhabas serve filling meals for under ₹80, and markets in Vadodara or Ahmedabad offer fresh produce at lower prices than Mumbai or Delhi. But if you’re used to imported goods or branded snacks, your grocery bill will jump. Transport is another factor—public buses are cheap, but if you need to commute daily from the outskirts to a factory, a bike or scooter becomes a necessity, and fuel costs add up fast. The real trade-off? You earn more than in many other states, but you spend more just to stay here. This isn’t a place where you live cheaply—it’s a place where you work hard and live with purpose.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of facts—it’s a real picture of what life looks like for people working in Gujarat’s factories, chemical plants, and small manufacturing units. From wage trends in Surat’s textile mills to how plastic producers manage housing for shift workers, these stories show you the hidden costs and real rewards of building a life in one of India’s toughest, most rewarding industrial states.