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: $422 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $384 in Birgunj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $674 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $620 in Birgunj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $926 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $856 in Birgunj.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) is roughly 10% more expensive than Birgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.26 ₹310

$1.43 NPR 217

127.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 ₹1,112

$18.86 NPR 2,871

-38.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 ₹473

$6.68 NPR 1,017

-25.75%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₹169

$1.86 NPR 283

-4.30%

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

$0.37 ₹35.45

$0.54 NPR 81.6

-31.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 ₹11.91

$0.14 NPR 21.88

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₹170

$2.58 NPR 393

-30.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₹271

$3.68 NPR 561

-22.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 ₹64.5

$0.69 NPR 106

-1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₹37.94

$0.26 NPR 39.48

53.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ₹61.9

$0.68 NPR 103

-4.41%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹96.9

$1.74 NPR 265

-41.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 ₹510

$7.81 NPR 1,188

-31.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ₹270

$2.59 NPR 394

9.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 920

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 ₹231

$2.26 NPR 344

7.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 ₹76.6

$1.04 NPR 159

-23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 ₹123

$1.20 NPR 182

7.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 ₹62.7

$0.64 NPR 97.6

3.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 ₹38.79

$0.48 NPR 72.5

-14.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.0

$0.62 NPR 95.0

-3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 ₹42.97

$0.16 NPR 24.86

181.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₹32.00

$0.23 NPR 35.13

47.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 ₹373

$1.86 NPR 283

110.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.45 ₹805

$7.93 NPR 1,207

6.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₹165

$2.33 NPR 354

-25.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 ₹239

$3.24 NPR 493

-22.53%

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

$7.31 ₹696

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.90

$0.14 NPR 20.98

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.93 ₹279

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 ₹57.4

$2.22 NPR 338

-72.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.21

$1.10 NPR 167

-72.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 ₹191

$3.61 NPR 550

-44.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₹118

$1.22 NPR 186

1.64%

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

$16.0K ₹1.5M

$32.6K NPR 5.0M

-51.01%

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

$23.0K ₹2.2M

$41.1K NPR 6.3M

-44.19%

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

$41.72 ₹3,974

$33.23 NPR 5,058

25.55%

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

$3.84 ₹365

$3.61 NPR 550

6.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.12 ₹678

$9.91 NPR 1,509

-28.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.01 ₹1,525

$14.34 NPR 2,183

11.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.45 ₹1,091

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 ₹394

$2.23 NPR 339

85.20%

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

$43.06 ₹4,102

$90.4 NPR 13.8K

-52.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,560 ₹148.6K

$3,822 NPR 581.7K

-59.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.84 ₹2,652

$25.26 NPR 3,844

10.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 ₹2,846

$27.58 NPR 4,198

8.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.50 ₹4,715

$28.79 NPR 4,383

71.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.81 ₹3,030

$18.31 NPR 2,786

73.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₹15.0K

$37.97 NPR 5,780

313.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.0 ₹8,386

$44.41 NPR 6,760

98.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₹36.0K

$136 NPR 20.7K

177.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 ₹18.5K

$88.4 NPR 13.5K

119.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 ₹110.9K

$664 NPR 101.0K

75.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$588 ₹56.0K

$493 NPR 75.0K

19.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$426 ₹40.6K

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): June 1, 2026

Last update for Birgunj: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $37.97 in Birgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $19.00 in Birgunj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $112 vs $139 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 10% 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 $632 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $576 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: $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $37.97 in Birgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $43.06 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $90.4 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 $12.00 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 10% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.