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 $358 in Birgunj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $658 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $576 in Birgunj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $893 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $794 in Birgunj.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) is roughly 18% more expensive than in Birgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 69% lower, Birgunj 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₹196

$1.29 NPR 198

58.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.47 ₹1,484

$20.14 NPR 3,089

-23.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₹393

$7.66 NPR 1,176

-46.48%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ₹160

$1.59 NPR 244

4.40%

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

$0.43 ₹41.43

$0.56 NPR 86.3

-23.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 ₹13.07

$0.14 NPR 21.36

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 ₹176

$2.32 NPR 355

-20.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 ₹309

$3.53 NPR 541

-8.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 ₹61.5

$0.68 NPR 104

-5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₹44.05

$0.24 NPR 36.77

91.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 ₹68.6

$0.64 NPR 97.7

12.50%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹97.6

$1.62 NPR 248

-37.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.48 ₹526

$7.33 NPR 1,124

-25.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.97 ₹285

$2.30 NPR 352

29.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.83 NPR 894

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 ₹226

$2.11 NPR 324

11.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 ₹72.9

$0.92 NPR 142

-17.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ₹143

$1.32 NPR 203

12.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 ₹65.2

$0.53 NPR 81.5

28.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 ₹28.13

$0.38 NPR 58.7

-23.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 ₹37.36

$0.50 NPR 76.5

-22.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 ₹31.18

$0.15 NPR 22.80

120.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₹26.96

$0.22 NPR 33.08

27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.03 ₹482

$1.62 NPR 248

210.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 ₹987

$7.84 NPR 1,203

31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₹159

$2.20 NPR 338

-24.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ₹265

$3.14 NPR 482

-11.78%

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

$6.48 ₹621

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₹14.16

$0.14 NPR 20.74

7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.58 ₹248

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₹82.8

$1.93 NPR 297

-55.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ₹30.88

$1.29 NPR 198

-75.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 ₹154

$3.21 NPR 493

-49.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ₹103

$1.06 NPR 162

1.89%

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

$14.5K ₹1.4M

$29.2K NPR 4.5M

-50.21%

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

$21.5K ₹2.1M

$37.0K NPR 5.7M

-41.89%

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

$55.0 ₹5,276

$31.86 NPR 4,887

72.66%

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

$4.85 ₹465

$3.34 NPR 512

45.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.81 ₹653

$7.83 NPR 1,201

-13.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.89 ₹1,429

$13.08 NPR 2,007

13.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.88 ₹1,044

Cinema Ticket

$3.34 ₹320

$2.00 NPR 307

67.00%

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

$41.18 ₹3,950

$66.9 NPR 10.3K

-38.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,997 ₹191.6K

$4,861 NPR 745.7K

-58.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.12 ₹2,314

$26.22 NPR 4,023

-8.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.22 ₹2,228

$28.83 NPR 4,423

-19.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.14 ₹3,179

$25.69 NPR 3,941

29.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.98 ₹2,492

$16.34 NPR 2,507

59.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 ₹14.5K

$34.79 NPR 5,338

335.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.2 ₹8,848

$39.61 NPR 6,076

132.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₹36.9K

$124 NPR 19.0K

210.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ₹19.3K

$79.5 NPR 12.2K

153.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,204 ₹115.5K

$647 NPR 99.3K

86.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$620 ₹59.5K

$486 NPR 74.6K

27.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$406 ₹38.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.17

9.72

-5.66%

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

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

Last update for Birgunj: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $152 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $34.79 in Birgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $20.00 in Birgunj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $132 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 18% 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 $536 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: $152 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $34.79 in Birgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $41.18 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $66.9 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 $20.00 versus $15.00 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 18% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.