😐A single person spends $512 per month in Hyderabad vs $430 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.
😐A couple spends around $836 per month in Hyderabad vs $678 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Hyderabad vs $925 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.
😐Hyderabad costs about 19% more than Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Hyderabad and Kolkata (Calcutta) are more affordable than the global median – Hyderabad62% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta)68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51₹332
$3.21₹304
9.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.14₹1,622
$11.40₹1,079
50.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.19₹491
$4.96₹469
4.64%
Cappuccino
$2.00₹190
$1.79₹169
11.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₹42.11
$0.38₹35.62
18.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹17.58
$0.12₹11.60
58.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₹203
$1.77₹167
20.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46₹327
$2.97₹281
16.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86₹81.6
$0.73₹69.0
17.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57₹54.0
$0.40₹37.76
42.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72₹68.3
$0.70₹65.8
2.86%
Eggs
$1.03₹97.5
$0.97₹91.9
6.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.08₹575
$5.35₹506
13.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.81₹361
$2.86₹271
33.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81₹266
$2.45₹232
14.69%
Banana(1kg)
$0.77₹72.5
$0.85₹80.6
-9.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04₹98.8
$1.31₹124
-20.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48₹45.07
$0.62₹58.2
-22.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46₹43.34
$0.37₹35.41
24.32%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52₹49.62
$0.59₹56.0
-11.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70₹66.7
$0.42₹39.73
66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37₹34.69
$0.31₹29.23
19.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04₹382
$4.04₹382
-
Wine(Bottle)
$8.48₹802
$8.70₹823
-2.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03₹192
$1.67₹158
21.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86₹270
$2.43₹230
17.70%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.63₹628
$7.37₹697
-10.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56₹53.2
$0.22₹20.72
154.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.33₹1,450
$2.82₹267
443.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₹112
$0.60₹56.5
96.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₹31.20
$0.29₹27.89
13.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.56₹147
$2.01₹190
-22.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28₹121
$1.18₹112
8.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2K₹1.6M
$15.5K₹1.5M
11.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K₹2.3M
$22.8K₹2.2M
4.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.85₹3,676
$42.24₹3,997
-8.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.43₹419
$3.94₹372
12.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.60₹813
$7.37₹698
16.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.91₹1,979
$16.33₹1,545
28.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.59₹718
$11.68₹1,105
-35.02%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99₹377
$4.08₹386
-2.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$115₹10.8K
$44.11₹4,173
159.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,567₹242.9K
$1,596₹151.0K
60.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.58₹2,893
$27.96₹2,645
9.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.68₹2,335
$30.70₹2,905
-19.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.02₹4,543
$49.88₹4,719
-3.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.93₹3,588
$31.43₹2,973
20.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235₹22.2K
$160₹15.2K
46.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137₹13.0K
$88.0₹8,329
55.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$633₹59.9K
$388₹36.7K
63.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334₹31.6K
$192₹18.1K
74.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,331₹125.9K
$1,160₹109.7K
14.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$784₹74.2K
$582₹55.0K
34.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hyderabad
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,220₹115.4K
$398₹37.7K
206.22%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Hyderabad versus $160 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 206% 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 $17.00 in Hyderabad versus $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $126 vs $112 – 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 19% 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 vs Kolkata (Calcutta)?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $768 per month in Hyderabad and $645 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 vs Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Public transport costs about 444% 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 Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Kindergarten costs $115 per month in Hyderabad and $44.11 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 Kolkata (Calcutta)?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $512 in Hyderabad and $430 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 $430 versus $512 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 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.