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: $378 in Amritsar versus $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $585 in Amritsar versus $677 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $792 in Amritsar versus $932 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Living in Amritsar costs roughly 11% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amritsar 72% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 ₹226

$3.16 ₹305

-25.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.27 ₹989

$11.50 ₹1,107

-10.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.55 ₹342

$4.92 ₹474

-27.85%

Cappuccino

$1.71 ₹164

$1.84 ₹177

-7.07%

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

$0.39 ₹37.94

$0.38 ₹36.28

2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₹19.22

$0.13 ₹12.57

53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 ₹164

$1.78 ₹171

-4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₹282

$2.92 ₹281

0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 ₹60.2

$0.69 ₹66.4

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₹52.3

$0.42 ₹40.78

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 ₹83.8

$0.70 ₹67.9

24.29%

Eggs

$0.85 ₹82.0

$1.02 ₹98.1

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.66 ₹449

$5.33 ₹513

-12.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ₹295

$2.92 ₹281

4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 ₹148

$2.54 ₹245

-39.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 ₹73.2

$0.81 ₹77.6

-6.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.64 ₹61.8

$1.26 ₹121

-49.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 ₹44.60

$0.60 ₹57.8

-23.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 ₹35.90

$0.40 ₹38.85

-7.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₹44.00

$0.59 ₹57.2

-22.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 ₹32.35

$0.42 ₹40.30

-19.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₹30.50

$0.30 ₹29.33

6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ₹398

$3.87 ₹373

6.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.26 ₹1,084

$9.17 ₹883

22.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₹166

$1.66 ₹160

3.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ₹265

$2.52 ₹242

9.13%

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

$5.06 ₹487

$7.55 ₹727

-32.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₹38.45

$0.22 ₹21.12

81.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.43 ₹2,256

$2.87 ₹277

716.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₹81.6

$0.56 ₹53.8

51.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₹21.09

$0.30 ₹28.54

-26.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₹125

$1.99 ₹192

-34.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₹116

$1.23 ₹118

-2.44%

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

$13.7K ₹1.3M

$15.5K ₹1.5M

-11.83%

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

$29.4K ₹2.8M

$22.8K ₹2.2M

29.18%

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

$47.06 ₹4,531

$41.64 ₹4,009

13.02%

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

$3.40 ₹327

$4.06 ₹391

-16.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.01 ₹675

$7.18 ₹691

-2.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 ₹2,405

$15.93 ₹1,534

56.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₹407

$11.45 ₹1,102

-63.06%

Cinema Ticket

$2.83 ₹273

$3.99 ₹384

-29.07%

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

$35.19 ₹3,388

$43.39 ₹4,178

-18.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$608 ₹58.6K

$1,558 ₹150.0K

-60.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.90 ₹2,398

$28.22 ₹2,717

-11.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.77 ₹2,288

$30.66 ₹2,952

-22.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.91 ₹4,709

$49.15 ₹4,732

-0.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.15 ₹3,192

$32.01 ₹3,082

3.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.2 ₹6,658

$160 ₹15.4K

-56.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$34.97 ₹3,367

$89.5 ₹8,619

-60.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 ₹12.6K

$385 ₹37.1K

-66.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.1 ₹8,480

$188 ₹18.1K

-53.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$796 ₹76.6K

$1,161 ₹111.8K

-31.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$637 ₹61.3K

$573 ₹55.2K

11.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$514 ₹49.5K

$373 ₹35.9K

37.88%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $69.2 in Amritsar and $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amritsar pays 38% 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 $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $109 vs $114 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 12% 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.

Average pay runs 38% higher in Amritsar, 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: $69.2 in Amritsar versus $160 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 $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $378 per month in Amritsar versus $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta) – a 12% 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 12% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.