Cost of Living Comparison Between Amritsar and Kolkata (Calcutta) Cost of Living Comparison Between Amritsar and Kolkata (Calcutta)

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in Amritsar versus $422 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $588 in Amritsar versus $674 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $789 in Amritsar versus $926 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Living in Amritsar costs roughly 8% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amritsar 71% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 ₹228

$3.26 ₹310

-26.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.03 ₹955

$11.67 ₹1,112

-14.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.54 ₹337

$4.96 ₹473

-28.63%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ₹164

$1.78 ₹169

-3.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₹37.32

$0.37 ₹35.45

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₹19.05

$0.12 ₹11.91

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 ₹164

$1.79 ₹170

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₹282

$2.84 ₹271

4.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 ₹63.4

$0.68 ₹64.5

-1.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₹54.5

$0.40 ₹37.94

42.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ₹84.5

$0.65 ₹61.9

36.92%

Eggs

$0.87 ₹83.2

$1.02 ₹96.9

-14.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.73 ₹450

$5.36 ₹510

-11.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ₹287

$2.83 ₹270

6.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 ₹146

$2.42 ₹231

-36.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 ₹71.2

$0.80 ₹76.6

-6.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 ₹66.0

$1.29 ₹123

-46.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 ₹40.79

$0.66 ₹62.7

-34.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 ₹33.13

$0.41 ₹38.79

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₹42.89

$0.60 ₹57.0

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 ₹34.45

$0.45 ₹42.97

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₹30.01

$0.34 ₹32.00

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 ₹397

$3.91 ₹373

6.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.76 ₹930

$8.45 ₹805

15.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₹160

$1.73 ₹165

-2.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₹270

$2.51 ₹239

13.15%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.17 ₹493

$7.31 ₹696

-29.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ₹40.54

$0.22 ₹20.90

95.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.41 ₹2,230

$2.93 ₹279

698.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₹73.4

$0.60 ₹57.4

28.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₹22.93

$0.30 ₹28.21

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ₹125

$2.01 ₹191

-34.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₹111

$1.24 ₹118

-5.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$14.0K ₹1.3M

$16.0K ₹1.5M

-12.44%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.4K ₹2.8M

$23.0K ₹2.2M

27.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$47.82 ₹4,555

$41.72 ₹3,974

14.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.48 ₹332

$3.84 ₹365

-9.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.13 ₹679

$7.12 ₹678

0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.16 ₹2,397

$16.01 ₹1,525

57.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.15 ₹396

$11.45 ₹1,091

-63.76%

Cinema Ticket

$2.88 ₹274

$4.13 ₹394

-30.27%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$35.21 ₹3,354

$43.06 ₹4,102

-18.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$605 ₹57.6K

$1,560 ₹148.6K

-61.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.32 ₹2,317

$27.84 ₹2,652

-12.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.64 ₹2,252

$29.87 ₹2,846

-20.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.44 ₹4,709

$49.50 ₹4,715

-0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.23 ₹3,165

$31.81 ₹3,030

4.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$68.7 ₹6,547

$157 ₹15.0K

-56.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$34.68 ₹3,303

$88.0 ₹8,386

-60.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$129 ₹12.3K

$377 ₹36.0K

-65.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.6 ₹8,250

$194 ₹18.5K

-55.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 ₹77.1K

$1,164 ₹110.9K

-30.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$624 ₹59.5K

$588 ₹56.0K

6.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$522 ₹49.7K

$426 ₹40.6K

22.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.3

9.9

-16.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Amritsar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $68.7 in Amritsar and $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amritsar pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $10.00 in Amritsar vs $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $106 vs $112 per month, with Amritsar cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Amritsar vs Kolkata (Calcutta): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amritsar wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Amritsar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Amritsar pays 22% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $68.7 in Amritsar versus $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Amritsar – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $388 per month in Amritsar versus $422 in Kolkata (Calcutta) – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Amritsar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Amritsar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.