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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $378 in Birgunj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $677 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $620 in Birgunj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $932 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $863 in Birgunj.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) is roughly 12% more expensive than in Birgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower, Birgunj 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 ₹305

$1.49 NPR 228

112.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.50 ₹1,107

$19.16 NPR 2,943

-39.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.92 ₹474

$6.42 NPR 986

-23.36%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₹177

$1.89 NPR 290

-2.65%

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

$0.38 ₹36.28

$0.54 NPR 82.4

-29.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 ₹12.57

$0.14 NPR 21.25

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 ₹171

$2.52 NPR 387

-29.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₹281

$3.70 NPR 568

-21.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 ₹66.4

$0.74 NPR 114

-6.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 ₹40.78

$0.28 NPR 43.07

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 ₹67.9

$0.67 NPR 103

4.48%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹98.1

$1.79 NPR 276

-43.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.33 ₹513

$7.94 NPR 1,220

-32.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 ₹281

$2.62 NPR 403

11.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 927

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 ₹245

$2.27 NPR 349

11.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹77.6

$1.06 NPR 163

-23.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ₹121

$1.18 NPR 182

6.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.8

$0.70 NPR 108

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 ₹38.85

$0.51 NPR 78.6

-21.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ₹57.2

$0.63 NPR 96.3

-6.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 ₹40.30

$0.15 NPR 23.66

180.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹29.33

$0.23 NPR 35.44

30.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 ₹373

$1.84 NPR 283

110.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₹883

$8.65 NPR 1,329

6.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₹160

$2.36 NPR 362

-29.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₹242

$3.37 NPR 518

-25.22%

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

$7.55 ₹727

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹21.12

$0.16 NPR 24.83

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.87 ₹277

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 ₹53.8

$2.12 NPR 326

-73.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.54

$1.06 NPR 163

-71.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 ₹192

$3.60 NPR 553

-44.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₹118

$1.21 NPR 186

1.65%

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

$15.5K ₹1.5M

$32.3K NPR 5.0M

-51.94%

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

$22.8K ₹2.2M

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

-43.85%

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

$41.64 ₹4,009

$33.18 NPR 5,097

25.50%

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

$4.06 ₹391

$3.67 NPR 563

10.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.18 ₹691

$9.85 NPR 1,513

-27.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.93 ₹1,534

$14.73 NPR 2,262

8.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.45 ₹1,102

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 ₹384

$2.16 NPR 331

84.72%

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

$43.39 ₹4,178

$90.8 NPR 14.0K

-52.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,558 ₹150.0K

$3,718 NPR 571.1K

-58.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.22 ₹2,717

$25.12 NPR 3,859

12.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.66 ₹2,952

$27.68 NPR 4,252

10.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.15 ₹4,732

$29.27 NPR 4,496

67.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.01 ₹3,082

$17.99 NPR 2,764

77.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 ₹15.4K

$38.60 NPR 5,930

313.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.5 ₹8,619

$43.96 NPR 6,752

103.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₹37.1K

$141 NPR 21.6K

173.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 ₹18.1K

$85.9 NPR 13.2K

119.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,161 ₹111.8K

$645 NPR 99.0K

80.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$573 ₹55.2K

$498 NPR 76.4K

15.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 ₹35.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

12.08

-18.05%

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

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): July 14, 2026

Last update for Birgunj: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $38.60 in Birgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $19.00 in Birgunj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $143 per month, with Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Birgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Birgunj wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Birgunj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $634 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $567 in Birgunj to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $38.60 in Birgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $43.39 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $90.8 in Birgunj. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Birgunj – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

Safety-wise, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Birgunj are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Birgunj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.