😐A single person spends $513 per month in Hyderabad vs $426 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.
😐A couple spends around $844 per month in Hyderabad vs $665 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,175 per month in Hyderabad vs $905 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.
😐Hyderabad costs about 20% more than Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Hyderabad and Kolkata (Calcutta) are more affordable than the global median – Hyderabad61% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta)68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.39₹323
$3.23₹308
4.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.61₹1,679
$11.45₹1,092
53.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.35₹510
$4.96₹473
7.86%
Cappuccino
$1.96₹187
$1.88₹180
4.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41₹39.04
$0.40₹38.60
2.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹17.65
$0.14₹13.79
35.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.12₹202
$1.70₹162
24.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46₹330
$2.97₹283
16.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85₹81.4
$0.73₹69.5
16.44%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60₹57.5
$0.43₹40.91
39.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76₹72.5
$0.71₹67.8
7.04%
Eggs
$1.03₹98.6
$0.97₹92.5
6.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.33₹604
$5.49₹524
15.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.82₹364
$2.91₹277
31.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72₹259
$2.50₹239
8.80%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78₹73.9
$0.80₹76.1
-2.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07₹102
$1.26₹120
-15.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48₹45.77
$0.61₹58.6
-21.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.50₹47.78
$0.37₹35.57
35.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51₹49.01
$0.60₹57.1
-15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67₹63.5
$0.41₹38.97
63.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34₹32.42
$0.31₹29.22
9.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13₹394
$3.85₹367
7.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.83₹842
$9.17₹874
-3.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05₹196
$1.68₹160
22.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₹278
$2.43₹232
20.16%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.59₹628
$7.52₹717
-12.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55₹52.6
$0.22₹20.93
150.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.25₹1,455
$2.82₹269
440.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13₹107
$0.55₹52.8
105.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₹33.49
$0.32₹30.99
9.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.53₹146
$2.01₹192
-23.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₹118
$1.24₹118
-0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K₹1.7M
$15.6K₹1.5M
12.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K₹2.4M
$22.4K₹2.1M
10.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.42₹3,664
$42.68₹4,070
-9.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.45₹425
$4.02₹383
10.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.22₹784
$7.21₹688
14.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.98₹2,001
$16.02₹1,528
30.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.87₹750
$11.50₹1,097
-31.57%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96₹378
$3.98₹380
-0.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117₹11.1K
$43.92₹4,188
165.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,597₹247.6K
$1,619₹154.4K
60.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.10₹2,966
$27.83₹2,654
11.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.28₹2,316
$30.44₹2,903
-20.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.14₹4,591
$49.24₹4,696
-2.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.59₹3,680
$31.37₹2,992
23.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239₹22.8K
$159₹15.2K
49.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135₹12.9K
$88.9₹8,481
52.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$632₹60.3K
$387₹36.9K
63.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333₹31.7K
$192₹18.3K
73.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,331₹126.9K
$1,195₹113.9K
11.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$777₹74.1K
$578₹55.1K
34.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,249₹119.1K
$381₹36.3K
227.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.19
9.9
-7.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hyderabad: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Hyderabad versus $159 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 228% higher in Hyderabad, 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 $18.00 in Hyderabad versus $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $128 vs $114 – making Kolkata (Calcutta) the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 20% more than Kolkata (Calcutta), with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $769 per month in Hyderabad and $639 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Hyderabad compared to Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Public transport costs about 441% 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 $117 per month in Hyderabad and $43.92 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 $513 in Hyderabad and $426 in Kolkata (Calcutta), leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hyderabad or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kolkata (Calcutta) costs $426 versus $513 in Hyderabad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Hyderabad or to Kolkata (Calcutta)?
If budget matters most, go with Kolkata (Calcutta). If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hyderabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.