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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $422 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $388 in Amritsar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $674 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $588 in Amritsar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $926 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $789 in Amritsar.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) is roughly 9% more expensive than Amritsar, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 69% lower, Amritsar 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.26 ₹310

$2.39 ₹228

36.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 ₹1,112

$10.03 ₹955

16.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 ₹473

$3.54 ₹337

40.11%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₹169

$1.72 ₹164

3.49%

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

$0.37 ₹35.45

$0.39 ₹37.32

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 ₹11.91

$0.20 ₹19.05

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₹170

$1.72 ₹164

4.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₹271

$2.96 ₹282

-4.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 ₹64.5

$0.67 ₹63.4

1.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₹37.94

$0.57 ₹54.5

-29.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ₹61.9

$0.89 ₹84.5

-26.97%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹96.9

$0.87 ₹83.2

17.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 ₹510

$4.73 ₹450

13.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ₹270

$3.01 ₹287

-5.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 ₹231

$1.54 ₹146

57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 ₹76.6

$0.75 ₹71.2

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 ₹123

$0.69 ₹66.0

86.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 ₹62.7

$0.43 ₹40.79

53.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 ₹38.79

$0.35 ₹33.13

17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.0

$0.45 ₹42.89

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 ₹42.97

$0.36 ₹34.45

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₹32.00

$0.32 ₹30.01

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 ₹373

$4.16 ₹397

-6.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.45 ₹805

$9.76 ₹930

-13.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₹165

$1.68 ₹160

2.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 ₹239

$2.84 ₹270

-11.62%

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

$7.31 ₹696

$5.17 ₹493

41.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.90

$0.43 ₹40.54

-48.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.93 ₹279

$23.41 ₹2,230

-87.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 ₹57.4

$0.77 ₹73.4

-22.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.21

$0.24 ₹22.93

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 ₹191

$1.31 ₹125

53.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₹118

$1.17 ₹111

5.98%

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

$16.0K ₹1.5M

$14.0K ₹1.3M

14.21%

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

$23.0K ₹2.2M

$29.4K ₹2.8M

-21.82%

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

$41.72 ₹3,974

$47.82 ₹4,555

-12.76%

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

$3.84 ₹365

$3.48 ₹332

10.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.12 ₹678

$7.13 ₹679

-0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.01 ₹1,525

$25.16 ₹2,397

-36.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.45 ₹1,091

$4.15 ₹396

175.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 ₹394

$2.88 ₹274

43.40%

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

$43.06 ₹4,102

$35.21 ₹3,354

22.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,560 ₹148.6K

$605 ₹57.6K

157.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.84 ₹2,652

$24.32 ₹2,317

14.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 ₹2,846

$23.64 ₹2,252

26.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.50 ₹4,715

$49.44 ₹4,709

0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.81 ₹3,030

$33.23 ₹3,165

-4.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₹15.0K

$68.7 ₹6,547

128.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.0 ₹8,386

$34.68 ₹3,303

153.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₹36.0K

$129 ₹12.3K

192.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 ₹18.5K

$86.6 ₹8,250

124.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 ₹110.9K

$810 ₹77.1K

43.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$588 ₹56.0K

$624 ₹59.5K

-5.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$426 ₹40.6K

$522 ₹49.7K

-18.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

8.3

19.28%

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

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): June 1, 2026

Last update for Amritsar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $68.7 in Amritsar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amritsar pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $10.00 in Amritsar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $112 vs $106 per month, with Amritsar 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

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

Amritsar wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Amritsar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Amritsar earns 22% 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: $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $68.7 in Amritsar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Amritsar – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $422 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $388 in Amritsar – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Amritsar 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.

Expats usually find Amritsar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.