Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hyderabad and Kolkata (Calcutta)

For one person, living is cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta): $434 a month against $491 in Hyderabad, rent and utilities included – about $680 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Hyderabad, India
Kolkata (Calcutta), India
Hyderabad
🇮🇳 India
$491
/mo nomad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
🇮🇳 India
$434
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hyderabad and in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hyderabad and in Kolkata (Calcutta) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $491 per month in Hyderabad vs $434 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.

  • Hyderabad $491
  • Kolkata (Calcutta) $434

A couple spends around $809 per month in Hyderabad vs $691 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.

  • Hyderabad $809
  • Kolkata (Calcutta) $691

A family of three spends $1,127 per month in Hyderabad vs $948 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.

  • Hyderabad $1,127
  • Kolkata (Calcutta) $948

Hyderabad costs about 13% more than Kolkata (Calcutta), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hyderabad and Kolkata (Calcutta) are more affordable than the global median – Hyderabad 64% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.58 ₹245
$2.08 ₹198
24.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.95 ₹1,515
$13.98 ₹1,327
14.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.10 ₹484
$4.15 ₹394
22.89%
Cappuccino
$2.27 ₹216
$1.66 ₹158
36.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₹42.44
$0.45 ₹42.69
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.09
$0.12 ₹11.11
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ₹201
$1.95 ₹185
8.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29 ₹407
$3.01 ₹286
42.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 ₹79.0
$0.67 ₹63.4
23.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 ₹55.5
$0.50 ₹47.53
16.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.70 ₹66.1
$0.74 ₹70.2
-5.41%
Eggs
$0.99 ₹94.3
$1.08 ₹102
-8.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.10 ₹674
$5.20 ₹494
36.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.38 ₹321
$3.00 ₹285
12.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 ₹222
$2.42 ₹230
-3.31%
Banana (1kg)
$0.68 ₹65.0
$0.81 ₹77.0
-16.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 ₹109
$1.36 ₹129
-16.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.44 ₹42.05
$0.66 ₹62.5
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.43 ₹40.36
$0.30 ₹28.66
43.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.47
$0.47 ₹44.83
-17.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 ₹48.66
$0.31 ₹29.00
64.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₹30.82
$0.28 ₹26.82
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₹492
$5.10 ₹484
1.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.37 ₹795
$10.36 ₹983
-19.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ₹173
$1.76 ₹167
3.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 ₹259
$2.82 ₹267
-3.55%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.16 ₹584
$7.01 ₹666
-12.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ₹51.4
$0.18 ₹16.66
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.95 ₹1,419
$3.12 ₹296
379.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 ₹87.0
$0.81 ₹76.7
13.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 ₹52.1
$0.31 ₹29.20
77.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₹113
$1.61 ₹152
-26.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ₹106
$1.10 ₹105
1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.4K ₹1.1M
$13.1K ₹1.2M
-13.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K ₹2.2M
$23.3K ₹2.2M
-2.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.06 ₹3,329
$52.5 ₹4,987
-33.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30 ₹408
$5.16 ₹490
-16.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.89 ₹749
$7.36 ₹699
7.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.12 ₹2,290
$15.76 ₹1,496
53.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.43 ₹706
$11.45 ₹1,088
-35.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.07 ₹291
$3.19 ₹303
-3.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$145 ₹13.8K
$43.26 ₹4,107
235.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,836 ₹269.2K
$1,997 ₹189.6K
41.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.57 ₹2,049
$27.19 ₹2,581
-20.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.03 ₹1,997
$26.01 ₹2,470
-19.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$42.00 ₹3,988
$35.95 ₹3,413
16.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.78 ₹3,303
$29.01 ₹2,754
19.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$231 ₹21.9K
$167 ₹15.9K
38.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 ₹12.6K
$103 ₹9,802
28.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 ₹59.3K
$392 ₹37.2K
59.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 ₹32.2K
$241 ₹22.9K
40.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,354 ₹128.5K
$1,097 ₹104.2K
23.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$776 ₹73.7K
$612 ₹58.1K
26.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,260 ₹119.6K
$379 ₹36.0K
232.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.55
9.08
-5.84%

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

Last update for Hyderabad: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
$133
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$103 22.4% $30
Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
$121
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$117 3.4% $4.2
Eating Out
Hyderabad
$85
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$67 20.9% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
$54
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$53 1% $0.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
$47
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$65 37.7% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
$30
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$22 26.8% $8.1
Getting Around
Hyderabad
$21
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$6.2 70.3% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $231 in Hyderabad versus $167 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 in Hyderabad are about 3.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Hyderabad versus $14 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $121 vs $117 – making Kolkata (Calcutta) the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Hyderabad
🇮🇳 Kolkata (Calcutta)
🕒 Local time
05:27 5:27 AM
05:27 5:27 AM
Same time as Hyderabad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,809,970
4,486,679
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 94.95 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hyderabad Kolkata (Calcutta) 1,180 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hyderabad
  • Kolkata (Calcutta)

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hyderabad vs Kolkata (Calcutta): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hyderabad or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Hyderabad costs about 13% more than Kolkata (Calcutta), and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hyderabad and in Kolkata (Calcutta)?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $736 per month in Hyderabad and $651 in Kolkata (Calcutta). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hyderabad or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta), especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $167 there versus $231 in Hyderabad.
How expensive is transport in Hyderabad compared to Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Public transport costs about 79% less in Kolkata (Calcutta). For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hyderabad and in Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Kindergarten costs $145 per month in Hyderabad and $43 in Kolkata (Calcutta). For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Hyderabad or in Kolkata (Calcutta)?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $491 in Hyderabad and $434 in Kolkata (Calcutta), leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
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.
Should I move to Hyderabad or to Kolkata (Calcutta)?
If budget matters most, go with Kolkata (Calcutta). If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hyderabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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