The short answer: in 2026, a part-time maid in an Indian metro typically charges ₹1,500–₹3,000 per task per month (e.g. sweeping-mopping or dishes, once daily), a full-time maid ₹10,000–₹18,000, and a live-in maid ₹15,000–₹30,000 plus food and lodging. Rates in tier-2 and tier-3 cities generally run 30–50% lower. The exact figure depends on your city, locality, tasks, and hours — the ranges below are indicative market rates, not fixed standards.
Typical monthly rates by city tier (2026)
These are commonly reported ranges for 2026. Premium localities in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru often exceed the top of the metro range.
| Role | Metro (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, etc.) | Tier-2 city | Tier-3 / smaller towns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time maid (per task, daily) | ₹1,500–₹3,000 | ₹1,000–₹2,000 | ₹700–₹1,500 |
| Part-time maid (2–3 tasks bundle) | ₹3,500–₹7,000 | ₹2,500–₹5,000 | ₹1,800–₹3,500 |
| Full-time maid (8–10 hrs, not live-in) | ₹10,000–₹18,000 | ₹8,000–₹13,000 | ₹6,000–₹10,000 |
| Live-in maid | ₹15,000–₹30,000 | ₹12,000–₹20,000 | ₹9,000–₹15,000 |
| Cook (one meal-time visit daily) | ₹2,500–₹6,000 | ₹2,000–₹4,000 | ₹1,500–₹3,000 |
| Full-time cook | ₹14,000–₹25,000 | ₹10,000–₹18,000 | ₹8,000–₹14,000 |
| Nanny / japa / ayah (full day) | ₹14,000–₹25,000 | ₹10,000–₹18,000 | ₹8,000–₹14,000 |
| Driver (full-time) | ₹18,000–₹30,000 | ₹14,000–₹22,000 | ₹10,000–₹16,000 |
Sources vary and rates move quickly; treat these as a starting point for a conversation, not a rate card. Within one city, the same work can differ 40% between localities.
Seven factors that move the rate up or down
- Locality. Staff working in premium apartment complexes charge more — partly travel time, partly market norms of the building.
- Task scope. "Cleaning" means different things. Sweeping-mopping, dishes, bathrooms, dusting, and laundry are usually priced as separate tasks.
- Household size. Most part-time rates assume a 2–3 BHK and a family of 3–4. Larger homes and joint families command higher rates.
- Hours and schedule. Early morning slots and all-7-days schedules cost more. A Mon–Sat schedule on a 26-day base is the metro default — relevant when you later calculate salary from attendance.
- Experience and references. A cook with a decade of experience and strong references is priced like the skilled professional she is.
- Festival bonus expectations. One month's salary as an annual bonus (often at Diwali) is customary in many cities and effectively part of total compensation.
- Agency vs direct. Placement agencies add one-time fees (often half to one month's salary) and sometimes push monthly rates higher.
How to set a salary that's fair — and stays fair
- Ask 3–4 neighbours what they pay for the same scope. The building rate matters more than the city average.
- Write down the scope: tasks, days per week, time window, and the working-days base (26 or 30). Ambiguity today is a dispute in month three.
- Agree the leave policy upfront — most households settle on 2–4 paid leaves a month. Our paid leave guide covers the common patterns.
- Plan an annual increment. A 5–10% yearly raise is customary and far cheaper than replacing a good worker. More on that in how to keep good house help for years.
- Pay on a fixed date, with a breakdown. Salary paid on time against a clear attendance record is the single biggest trust builder. A written or digital payslip (here's the format) makes the arithmetic visible to both sides.
Once the rate is set, the record matters more than the rate
Most salary friction isn't about the agreed amount — it's about attendance nobody wrote down and advances nobody remembers the same way. StaffAround keeps a one-tap daily attendance record, applies your agreed salary and schedule automatically, tracks advances, and produces a month-end payslip you can share on WhatsApp. It's free to start for up to 2 staff members.