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: $450 in Chandigarh versus $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Chandigarh versus $677 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,012 in Chandigarh versus $932 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Living in Chandigarh is roughly 6% more expensive than in Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chandigarh 66% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.12 ₹300

$3.16 ₹305

-1.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.08 ₹1,355

$11.50 ₹1,107

22.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.53 ₹340

$4.92 ₹474

-28.25%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ₹191

$1.84 ₹177

7.61%

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

$0.40 ₹38.41

$0.38 ₹36.28

5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₹19.21

$0.13 ₹12.57

53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 ₹171

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₹278

$2.92 ₹281

-1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 ₹74.2

$0.69 ₹66.4

11.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₹54.9

$0.42 ₹40.78

35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₹79.1

$0.70 ₹67.9

17.14%

Eggs

$1.09 ₹105

$1.02 ₹98.1

6.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.49 ₹528

$5.33 ₹513

3.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.91 ₹281

$2.92 ₹281

-0.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ₹198

$2.54 ₹245

-19.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 ₹72.3

$0.81 ₹77.6

-7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 ₹95.7

$1.26 ₹121

-21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 ₹54.4

$0.60 ₹57.8

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 ₹37.80

$0.40 ₹38.85

-2.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₹43.77

$0.59 ₹57.2

-23.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 ₹43.96

$0.42 ₹40.30

9.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₹30.32

$0.30 ₹29.33

3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ₹398

$3.87 ₹373

6.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.70 ₹1,126

$9.17 ₹883

27.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₹160

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₹275

$2.52 ₹242

13.10%

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

$5.06 ₹487

$7.55 ₹727

-32.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₹26.69

$0.22 ₹21.12

27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.68 ₹835

$2.87 ₹277

202.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₹75.7

$0.56 ₹53.8

41.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₹23.11

$0.30 ₹28.54

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ₹126

$1.99 ₹192

-34.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₹116

$1.23 ₹118

-1.63%

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

$14.8K ₹1.4M

$15.5K ₹1.5M

-4.84%

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

$28.9K ₹2.8M

$22.8K ₹2.2M

26.72%

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

$47.68 ₹4,590

$41.64 ₹4,009

14.51%

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

$3.34 ₹321

$4.06 ₹391

-17.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.17 ₹690

$7.18 ₹691

-0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.79 ₹1,905

$15.93 ₹1,534

24.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.31 ₹992

$11.45 ₹1,102

-9.96%

Cinema Ticket

$2.84 ₹273

$3.99 ₹384

-28.82%

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

$61.9 ₹5,957

$43.39 ₹4,178

42.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,966 ₹189.3K

$1,558 ₹150.0K

26.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.88 ₹2,395

$28.22 ₹2,717

-11.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.03 ₹2,314

$30.66 ₹2,952

-21.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.63 ₹4,682

$49.15 ₹4,732

-1.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.59 ₹3,138

$32.01 ₹3,082

1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 ₹16.4K

$160 ₹15.4K

6.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 ₹10.1K

$89.5 ₹8,619

16.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₹39.5K

$385 ₹37.1K

6.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₹25.7K

$188 ₹18.1K

41.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,017 ₹290.5K

$1,161 ₹111.8K

159.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,782 ₹171.6K

$573 ₹55.2K

211.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$471 ₹45.3K

$373 ₹35.9K

26.41%

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 Chandigarh: July 11, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $170 in Chandigarh and $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chandigarh pays 26% 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 $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $119 vs $114 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 6% 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 26% 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: $170 in Chandigarh versus $160 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 202% 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 $43.39 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 6% less than in Chandigarh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.