😐A single person spends $539 per month in Delhi vs $431 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.
😐A couple spends around $857 per month in Delhi vs $679 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,174 per month in Delhi vs $926 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.
😐Delhi costs about 25% more than Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Delhi and Kolkata (Calcutta) are more affordable than the global median – Delhi60% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta)68% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.76₹452
$3.11₹296
53.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.65₹1,866
$11.85₹1,125
65.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.13₹392
$5.04₹478
-18.06%
Cappuccino
$2.10₹199
$1.82₹172
15.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48₹45.40
$0.41₹38.72
17.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14₹13.70
$0.16₹14.95
-12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04₹194
$1.79₹170
13.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55₹337
$2.86₹271
24.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73₹69.8
$0.72₹68.8
1.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56₹53.0
$0.40₹37.81
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92₹87.4
$0.69₹65.9
33.33%
Eggs
$1.17₹111
$1.02₹96.6
14.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.63₹440
$5.33₹506
-13.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.50₹332
$2.95₹280
18.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03₹193
$2.43₹231
-16.46%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85₹80.6
$0.81₹76.5
4.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.96₹91.6
$1.26₹120
-23.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60₹57.3
$0.65₹61.7
-7.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.42₹39.81
$0.40₹38.28
5.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51₹48.15
$0.60₹56.6
-15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59₹56.2
$0.45₹42.57
31.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36₹34.62
$0.30₹28.90
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11₹391
$3.85₹366
6.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.10₹959
$9.30₹883
8.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78₹169
$1.67₹159
6.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77₹263
$2.43₹231
13.99%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.62₹534
$7.42₹705
-24.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54₹50.8
$0.24₹22.90
125.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.58₹1,099
$2.82₹268
310.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57₹53.9
$0.60₹56.9
-5.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28₹26.22
$0.32₹30.63
-12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.25₹119
$2.08₹197
-39.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17₹111
$1.24₹118
-5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K₹1.6M
$15.4K₹1.5M
12.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K₹2.3M
$22.3K₹2.1M
7.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.6₹6,232
$41.22₹3,914
59.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30₹409
$3.96₹376
8.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.90₹750
$7.35₹698
7.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.40₹1,936
$16.12₹1,530
26.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17₹965
$11.59₹1,101
-12.25%
Cinema Ticket
$4.75₹451
$4.14₹393
14.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$80.2₹7,612
$43.87₹4,165
82.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,059₹195.4K
$1,598₹151.7K
28.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.26₹2,588
$28.71₹2,726
-5.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.85₹3,023
$29.95₹2,843
6.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.67₹4,716
$50.2₹4,765
-1.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.83₹3,496
$31.26₹2,968
17.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242₹22.9K
$162₹15.3K
49.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$140₹13.2K
$87.7₹8,328
59.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$596₹56.5K
$383₹36.3K
55.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329₹31.2K
$195₹18.5K
69.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,553₹242.4K
$1,159₹110.0K
120.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$922₹87.5K
$564₹53.5K
63.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$535₹50.8K
$421₹40.0K
26.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
9.9
-9.09%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Delhi: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Kolkata (Calcutta): April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Delhi versus $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 27% higher in Delhi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Delhi versus $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $118 vs $114 – making Kolkata (Calcutta) the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Delhi vs Kolkata (Calcutta): Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
How do living costs in Delhi and Kolkata (Calcutta) compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $539 in Delhi, $431 in Kolkata (Calcutta) – roughly 25% apart. Delhi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Delhi compared to Kolkata (Calcutta)?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $809 per month in Delhi and $647 in Kolkata (Calcutta). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Delhi and Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta), especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Delhi and $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta). That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Delhi or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $539 in Delhi and $431 in Kolkata (Calcutta). The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $800 go in Delhi vs Kolkata (Calcutta)?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $539 in Delhi and $431 in Kolkata (Calcutta), leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Delhi or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Families tend to lean toward Kolkata (Calcutta) – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Delhi and Kolkata (Calcutta)?
If budget matters most, go with Kolkata (Calcutta). If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Delhi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.