For one person, living is cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta): $434 a month against $471 in Babol, rent and utilities included – about $440 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Babol outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
How much you'll spend in Kolkata (Calcutta) and in Babol
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kolkata (Calcutta) and in Babol actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $434 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $471 in Babol, rent included.
Kolkata (Calcutta) $434
Babol $471
A couple spends around $691 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $733 in Babol, rent included.
Kolkata (Calcutta) $691
Babol $733
A family of three spends $948 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $994 in Babol, rent included.
Kolkata (Calcutta) $948
Babol $994
🙂
Kolkata (Calcutta) is about 8% cheaper than Babol, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.
📊
Both Kolkata (Calcutta) and Babol are more affordable than the global median – Kolkata (Calcutta)68% lower, Babol65% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08₹198
$2.94$2.94
-29.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.98₹1,331
$10.80$10.80
29.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.15₹396
$4.02$4.02
3.23%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.49$0.49
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.66$0.66
-
Cappuccino
$1.66₹158
$1.05$1.05
58.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₹42.81
$0.29$0.29
55.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12₹11.15
$1.72$1.72
-93.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95₹185
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01₹286
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.67₹63.6
$0.71$0.71
-5.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50₹47.66
$0.22$0.22
127.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.74₹70.4
$2.47$2.47
-70.04%
Eggs
$1.08₹103
$1.22$1.22
-11.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.20₹495
$2.02$2.02
157.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.00₹286
$3.27$3.27
-8.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$9.23$9.23
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.42₹230
$1.22$1.22
98.36%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81₹77.2
$1.41$1.41
-42.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36₹130
$0.48$0.48
183.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.66₹62.7
$0.48$0.48
37.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30₹28.74
$0.29$0.29
3.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47₹44.96
$0.29$0.29
62.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31₹29.09
$0.29$0.29
6.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28₹26.90
$0.14$0.14
100.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.78$0.78
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.54$0.54
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.18$2.18
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10₹485
$2.24$2.24
127.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.36₹986
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76₹168
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82₹268
-
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.01₹668
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18₹16.71
$0.16$0.16
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.12₹297
$9.65$9.65
-67.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.81₹76.9
$0.51$0.51
58.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31₹29.28
$0.29$0.29
6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.61₹153
$2.94$2.94
-45.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10₹105
$0.08$0.08
1275.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.1K₹1.3M
$49.2K$49.2K
-73.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K₹2.2M
$30.1K$30.1K
-22.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.5₹5,001
$12.91$12.91
306.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.16₹492
$1.52$1.52
239.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.36₹701
$3.84$3.84
91.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.76₹1,500
$18.51$18.51
-14.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.45₹1,091
$13.57$13.57
-15.62%
Cinema Ticket
$3.19₹304
$1.94$1.94
64.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.26₹4,119
$48.02$48.02
-9.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,997₹190.2K
$2,397$2,397
-16.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.19₹2,589
$19.85$19.85
36.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.01₹2,477
$14.97$14.97
73.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.95₹3,423
$53.6$53.6
-32.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.01₹2,762
$39.31$39.31
-26.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167₹15.9K
$289$289
-42.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$103₹9,830
$207$207
-50.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$392₹37.3K
$779$779
-49.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241₹22.9K
$359$359
-32.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,097₹104.5K
$911$911
20.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$612₹58.2K
$596$596
2.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$379₹36.1K
$130$130
190.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.08
23.75
-61.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): October 26, 2026
Last update for Babol: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$117 27%
Babol
$97 20.6% ↓ 16.8%$20
🏠Accommodation & Living
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$103 23.8%
Babol
$207 44% ↑ 101%$104
🍽Eating Out
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$67 15.5%
Babol
$56 11.9% ↓ 16.3%$11
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$65 15%
Babol
$18 3.9% ↓ 71.9%$47
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$53 12.3%
Babol
$57 12.2% ↑ 8.1%$4.3
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$22 5.1%
Babol
$22 4.8% ↑ 1.1%$0.3
🚌Getting Around
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$6.2 1.4%
Babol
$12 2.6% ↑ 98.5%$6.1
🛒Groceries & Markets
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$251 26.5%
Babol
$240 24.1% ↓ 4.4%$11
🏠Accommodation & Living
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$241 25.4%
Babol
$359 36.2% ↑ 49.2%$118
🍽Eating Out
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$199 21%
Babol
$164 16.5% ↓ 17.5%$35
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$70 7.4%
Babol
$20 2% ↓ 71.8%$50
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$118 12.5%
Babol
$128 12.9% ↑ 8.1%$9.6
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$56 5.9%
Babol
$58 5.9% ↑ 4.7%$2.6
🚌Getting Around
Kolkata (Calcutta)
$13 1.3%
Babol
$25 2.5% ↑ 95.7%$12
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $289 in Babol. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries in Kolkata (Calcutta) are about 2.9 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $11 in Babol. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $97 – making Babol the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Kolkata (Calcutta)→Babol3,760 km≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Babol
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
Kolkata (Calcutta) vs Babol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kolkata (Calcutta) and in Babol compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $434 in Kolkata (Calcutta), $471 in Babol – Kolkata (Calcutta) comes out roughly 8% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Kolkata (Calcutta) compared to Babol?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $651 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $707 in Babol. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Babol?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta), especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $167 there versus $289 in Babol.
How do commuting costs compare in Kolkata (Calcutta) and in Babol?
Public transport costs about 68% less in Kolkata (Calcutta). For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Babol?
Kindergarten costs $43 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $48 in Babol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $800 go in Kolkata (Calcutta) compared to Babol?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $434 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $471 in Babol, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kolkata (Calcutta) or Babol?
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.
Kolkata (Calcutta) vs other spots: cost of living compared