Cost Guides
What Determines the Cost of Hiring a Cook or Maid in India
The factors that actually move the number, not a fixed price.
There's no single answer to "how much does a cook or maid cost" because it depends on several factors that vary household to household. Here's what actually moves the number, so you can ask the right questions instead of comparing quotes blind.
Live-in vs. live-out
Live-in arrangements typically involve a different cost structure than live-out (daily/hourly) help, since accommodation and food are usually part of the arrangement.
Hours and scope
Full-day versus a few hours, one meal a day versus three, cleaning-only versus cooking-and-cleaning combined — scope is usually the single biggest driver of cost.
Cooking style and city
Specialized cooking (a specific regional cuisine, dietary requirements) can affect cost, and city-to-city cost of living plays a real role — Mumbai and Bengaluru rates are not the same as smaller cities.
Questions worth asking any hiring service
- Is this rate for live-in or live-out?
- What's included — cooking only, cleaning only, or both?
- Is there a replacement guarantee if it doesn't work out?
- Is payroll/compliance handled, or is that separate?
Questions
Why won't anyone give me a straight number?
Because the honest answer depends on the factors above — live-in vs. live-out, hours, and scope vary too much for one number to be meaningful. A service that names a fixed price without asking about your household's specifics is worth being cautious of.
Tell PadosiPro your household's specific requirements and get a quote based on what you actually need, not a generic rate card.