The headline range
For 1,200-1,400 sqft casual dining, expect ₹55 lakhs to ₹1.05 crore all in. Top end is Khan Market, CP inner circle, Hauz Khas Village. Mid band is GK1, GK2, Saket, Lajpat Nagar. Karkardooma, Pitampura, Rohini are cheapest. Gurugram Cyber Hub and Noida Sector 18 belong in the top band.
Line item 1; kitchen equipment: ₹13-21 lakhs
National priced, but NCR contractor rates run 10-15% above Pune for installation. Equipment availability is excellent; Jhandewalan and Karol Bagh have India's deepest commercial kitchen secondary markets.
Line item 2; interiors and furniture: ₹18-32 lakhs
| Component | Lean (₹) | Mid (₹) | Premium (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| False ceiling + lighting | 2,00,000 | 3,80,000 | 6,80,000 |
| Flooring (1,200 sqft) | 1,40,000 | 2,80,000 | 5,80,000 |
| Furniture (60 covers) | 2,80,000 | 4,40,000 | 8,20,000 |
| Wall finishes + art | 1,00,000 | 2,20,000 | 4,20,000 |
| Bar + counter joinery | 1,50,000 | 2,80,000 | 5,80,000 |
| HVAC | 1,80,000 | 3,80,000 | 6,40,000 |
| Signage | 75,000 | 1,40,000 | 2,80,000 |
Line item 3; property deposit: ₹10-22 lakhs
Delhi commercial leases ask 6-10 months at rates of ₹150-400/sqft for prime QSR. Khan Market and CP push to ₹400-500/sqft and 10 month deposits. Verify ‘authorised colony’ status before signing; unauthorised colonies cannot get MCD Health Trade.
Line item 4; licences and approvals: ₹3-5 lakhs
Delhi has India's heaviest compliance stack: FSSAI (₹2-5k), GST (free), MCD/NDMC Trade Licence (₹5-25k), MCD/NDMC Health Trade (₹2.5-25k), Eating House Licence (₹2-5k), Fire NOC (₹8-30k for premises >100 sqm), DPCC consent (₹5-30k), Signage (₹2-12k), Music (₹15-60k), Liquor (₹4-12L upfront).
Line item 5; working capital: ₹8-14 lakhs
Delhi salaries run ₹22-28k for line cooks, ₹17-22k for service; about 15% above Pune. Monthly fixed for a casual dining lands at ₹6-9L; working capital should be 1.5× that, so ₹9-13L sitting separate from capex.
Micromarket capex bands for Delhi/NCR
| Micromarket | Rent (₹/sqft/mo) | Total capex (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Karkardooma / Pitampura | 120-180 | 55-68L |
| Rohini / Dwarka | 130-200 | 57-70L |
| Lajpat Nagar / GK1 | 180-260 | 65-82L |
| Saket / GK2 | 200-300 | 68-86L |
| Hauz Khas Village | 260-380 | 75-95L |
| CP outer circle | 260-360 | 75-92L |
| CP inner circle | 350-450 | 92-1.05Cr |
| Khan Market | 400-550 | 95-1.1Cr |
| Noida Sec 18/62 | 150-280 | 65-82L |
| Gurugram Cyber Hub | 350-500 | 92-1.1Cr |
Delhi specific cost drivers
- Society NOC; DDA flats and CGHS societies often refuse F&B; budget ₹50k-2L goodwill in some cases.
- Eating House Licence; Delhi Police issued, prerequisite for future liquor.
- Heating/cooling load; Delhi's extreme weather pushes HVAC capex 20-30% above Bengaluru. Don't under spec.
- AAP/MCD enforcement; periodic crackdowns on Eating House and Signage Licences. Stay current on renewals.