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: $479 in Chandigarh versus $417 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $771 in Chandigarh versus $665 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,063 in Chandigarh versus $912 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Living in Chandigarh is roughly 15% more expensive than in Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chandigarh 65% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ₹297

$2.04 ₹194

53.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.39 ₹1,271

$13.29 ₹1,262

0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.26 ₹405

$4.13 ₹392

3.15%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₹258

$1.64 ₹156

65.85%

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

$0.43 ₹41.04

$0.43 ₹41.22

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₹23.77

$0.13 ₹12.70

92.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 ₹196

$1.92 ₹182

7.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₹292

$3.13 ₹297

-1.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 ₹68.5

$0.70 ₹66.9

2.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₹47.89

$0.46 ₹43.65

8.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 ₹83.7

$0.72 ₹68.5

22.22%

Eggs

$1.01 ₹96.1

$1.05 ₹100

-3.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.14 ₹488

$5.47 ₹519

-6.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 ₹278

$2.96 ₹281

-1.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.78 ₹169

$2.53 ₹240

-29.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 ₹74.0

$0.80 ₹76.2

-2.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₹103

$1.46 ₹138

-25.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ₹60.7

$0.68 ₹64.5

-5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 ₹31.42

$0.30 ₹28.59

10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₹35.57

$0.38 ₹36.37

-2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ₹62.6

$0.31 ₹29.34

112.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₹30.89

$0.26 ₹24.65

26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₹491

$5.15 ₹489

0.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 ₹1,088

$10.39 ₹986

10.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₹164

$1.71 ₹163

1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₹254

$2.68 ₹255

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

$6.53 ₹620

$7.04 ₹669

-7.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ₹29.20

$0.15 ₹14.59

106.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.72 ₹353

$2.13 ₹202

74.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₹97.6

$0.57 ₹54.0

80.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₹23.85

$0.31 ₹29.24

-19.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 ₹153

$1.79 ₹170

-10.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ₹102

$1.08 ₹103

-0.93%

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

$12.5K ₹1.2M

$14.3K ₹1.4M

-12.39%

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

$25.3K ₹2.4M

$21.3K ₹2.0M

19.22%

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

$45.40 ₹4,311

$55.1 ₹5,230

-17.59%

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

$4.71 ₹447

$5.06 ₹481

-6.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.70 ₹636

$7.06 ₹671

-5.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.10 ₹2,004

$14.23 ₹1,351

48.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.07 ₹766

$10.69 ₹1,015

-24.51%

Cinema Ticket

$3.23 ₹306

$3.75 ₹356

-13.87%

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

$60.0 ₹5,694

$45.21 ₹4,292

32.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,493 ₹236.7K

$1,963 ₹186.4K

26.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.30 ₹2,592

$24.97 ₹2,371

9.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.12 ₹2,385

$22.58 ₹2,144

11.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.8 ₹5,394

$31.25 ₹2,967

81.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.72 ₹4,151

$26.49 ₹2,515

65.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₹16.5K

$162 ₹15.4K

7.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 ₹11.0K

$95.1 ₹9,024

21.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₹44.3K

$411 ₹39.0K

13.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 ₹27.0K

$210 ₹20.0K

35.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,973 ₹282.3K

$1,242 ₹117.9K

139.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,786 ₹169.6K

$617 ₹58.6K

189.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 ₹40.9K

$381 ₹36.2K

13.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.27

-13.70%

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

Last update for Chandigarh: August 30, 2026

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $174 in Chandigarh and $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chandigarh pays 13% 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: $13.00 in Chandigarh vs $13.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $117 per month, with Chandigarh 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 15% 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.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Chandigarh, 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 $162 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 75% less than in Chandigarh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.0 in Chandigarh versus $45.21 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 15% less than in Chandigarh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.