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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $460 in Dehradun versus $431 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $823 in Dehradun versus $679 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,185 in Dehradun versus $926 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Living in Dehradun is roughly 7% more expensive than Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 ₹226

$3.11 ₹295

-23.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.31 ₹881

$11.85 ₹1,121

-21.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.98 ₹377

$5.04 ₹477

-21.03%

Cappuccino

$1.75 ₹166

$1.82 ₹172

-3.85%

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

$0.44 ₹41.68

$0.41 ₹38.59

7.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ₹17.54

$0.16 ₹14.90

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ₹192

$1.79 ₹169

12.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₹277

$2.86 ₹271

2.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 ₹71.3

$0.72 ₹68.6

4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 ₹42.93

$0.40 ₹37.68

12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 ₹67.1

$0.69 ₹65.7

2.90%

Eggs

$0.90 ₹85.2

$1.02 ₹96.3

-11.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.66 ₹441

$5.33 ₹505

-12.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.54 ₹335

$2.95 ₹279

20.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.95 ₹185

$2.43 ₹230

-19.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 ₹64.8

$0.81 ₹76.2

-16.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 ₹75.0

$1.26 ₹120

-37.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 ₹52.0

$0.65 ₹61.5

-15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 ₹32.66

$0.40 ₹38.15

-12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₹42.51

$0.60 ₹56.5

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₹52.3

$0.45 ₹42.43

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₹35.67

$0.30 ₹28.80

26.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.37 ₹414

$3.85 ₹365

13.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.30 ₹975

$9.30 ₹880

10.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₹162

$1.67 ₹158

2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₹220

$2.43 ₹230

-4.12%

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

$5.96 ₹563

$7.42 ₹702

-19.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₹28.52

$0.24 ₹22.83

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.99 ₹1,324

$2.82 ₹267

396.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₹74.4

$0.60 ₹56.7

31.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₹20.80

$0.32 ₹30.53

-31.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₹197

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₹108

$1.24 ₹117

-8.06%

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

$13.0K ₹1.2M

$15.4K ₹1.5M

-15.79%

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

$20.3K ₹1.9M

$22.3K ₹2.1M

-8.86%

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

$40.89 ₹3,869

$41.22 ₹3,900

-0.80%

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

$3.82 ₹361

$3.96 ₹375

-3.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.28 ₹689

$7.35 ₹695

-0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.61 ₹1,572

$16.12 ₹1,525

3.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.82 ₹1,024

$11.59 ₹1,097

-6.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.41 ₹512

$4.14 ₹392

30.68%

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

$64.8 ₹6,129

$43.87 ₹4,151

47.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,111 ₹105.1K

$1,598 ₹151.2K

-30.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.67 ₹2,051

$28.71 ₹2,717

-24.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.23 ₹2,671

$29.95 ₹2,834

-5.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.78 ₹4,521

$50.2 ₹4,749

-4.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.43 ₹4,109

$31.26 ₹2,958

38.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₹17.0K

$162 ₹15.3K

10.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 ₹10.5K

$87.7 ₹8,299

26.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 ₹38.8K

$383 ₹36.2K

7.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 ₹45.5K

$195 ₹18.4K

147.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$746 ₹70.5K

$1,159 ₹109.7K

-35.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$468 ₹44.3K

$564 ₹53.3K

-16.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$365 ₹34.5K

$421 ₹39.9K

-13.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

9.9

-16.67%

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

Last update for Dehradun: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $179 in Dehradun and $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Dehradun vs $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $112 vs $114 per month, with Dehradun 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

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

Kolkata (Calcutta) is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Kolkata (Calcutta) earns 15% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $179 in Dehradun versus $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Dehradun pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta) – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $9.00 in Dehradun. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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, Dehradun 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 7% less than in Dehradun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.