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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $455 in Chandigarh versus $422 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $739 in Chandigarh versus $674 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,023 in Chandigarh versus $926 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Living in Chandigarh is roughly 8% more expensive than Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chandigarh 66% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 ₹303

$3.26 ₹312

-3.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.21 ₹1,360

$11.67 ₹1,117

21.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.41 ₹327

$4.96 ₹475

-31.25%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ₹192

$1.78 ₹170

12.36%

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

$0.39 ₹37.50

$0.37 ₹35.62

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₹19.12

$0.12 ₹11.96

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 ₹164

$1.79 ₹171

-4.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₹281

$2.84 ₹272

3.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 ₹73.9

$0.68 ₹64.8

13.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 ₹55.9

$0.40 ₹38.11

45.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ₹85.9

$0.65 ₹62.2

38.46%

Eggs

$1.06 ₹101

$1.02 ₹97.3

3.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.45 ₹522

$5.36 ₹513

1.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ₹290

$2.83 ₹271

7.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 ₹190

$2.42 ₹232

-17.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹78.0

$0.80 ₹77.0

1.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 ₹93.1

$1.29 ₹123

-24.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 ₹54.0

$0.66 ₹63.0

-15.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 ₹37.84

$0.41 ₹38.97

-2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₹43.88

$0.60 ₹57.3

-23.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 ₹46.85

$0.45 ₹43.17

8.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₹30.38

$0.34 ₹32.15

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.01 ₹384

$3.91 ₹374

2.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.79 ₹936

$8.45 ₹809

15.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₹165

$1.73 ₹166

-0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₹264

$2.51 ₹240

9.96%

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

$5.28 ₹506

$7.31 ₹700

-27.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₹28.89

$0.22 ₹21.00

36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.50 ₹814

$2.93 ₹280

190.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₹74.6

$0.60 ₹57.7

30.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₹23.09

$0.30 ₹28.34

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₹124

$2.01 ₹192

-35.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₹110

$1.24 ₹118

-7.26%

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

$14.5K ₹1.4M

$16.0K ₹1.5M

-9.25%

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

$29.0K ₹2.8M

$23.0K ₹2.2M

26.16%

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

$47.95 ₹4,588

$41.72 ₹3,992

14.93%

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

$3.47 ₹332

$3.84 ₹367

-9.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.14 ₹683

$7.12 ₹681

0.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.33 ₹1,850

$16.01 ₹1,532

20.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.12 ₹969

$11.45 ₹1,096

-11.62%

Cinema Ticket

$2.88 ₹276

$4.13 ₹396

-30.27%

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

$61.9 ₹5,925

$43.06 ₹4,121

43.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 ₹188.4K

$1,560 ₹149.3K

26.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.50 ₹2,344

$27.84 ₹2,664

-12.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.07 ₹2,303

$29.87 ₹2,859

-19.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.81 ₹4,671

$49.50 ₹4,737

-1.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.30 ₹3,091

$31.81 ₹3,044

1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₹16.7K

$157 ₹15.0K

11.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 ₹9,920

$88.0 ₹8,425

17.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₹38.5K

$377 ₹36.1K

6.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₹25.9K

$194 ₹18.6K

39.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,407 ₹326.1K

$1,164 ₹111.4K

192.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,069 ₹198.0K

$588 ₹56.2K

251.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$435 ₹41.7K

$426 ₹40.8K

2.09%

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 Chandigarh: May 30, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $174 in Chandigarh and $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chandigarh pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Chandigarh vs $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $112 per month, with Kolkata (Calcutta) 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

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

Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Chandigarh. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolkata (Calcutta) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Chandigarh pays 2% 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: $174 in Chandigarh versus $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 190% less than in Chandigarh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $61.9 in Chandigarh versus $43.06 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kolkata (Calcutta) 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.

Safety-wise, Chandigarh and Kolkata (Calcutta) are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kolkata (Calcutta) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Chandigarh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.