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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $417 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $479 in Chandigarh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $665 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $771 in Chandigarh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $912 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $1,063 in Chandigarh.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) costs roughly 13% less than in Chandigarh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 70% lower, Chandigarh 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ₹194

$3.13 ₹297

-34.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.29 ₹1,262

$13.39 ₹1,271

-0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 ₹392

$4.26 ₹405

-3.05%

Cappuccino

$1.64 ₹156

$2.72 ₹258

-39.71%

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

$0.43 ₹41.23

$0.43 ₹41.05

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 ₹12.70

$0.25 ₹23.77

-48.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 ₹182

$2.07 ₹196

-7.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ₹297

$3.08 ₹292

1.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 ₹66.9

$0.72 ₹68.5

-2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₹43.66

$0.50 ₹47.90

-8.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 ₹68.5

$0.88 ₹83.7

-18.18%

Eggs

$1.05 ₹100

$1.01 ₹96.1

3.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.47 ₹520

$5.14 ₹488

6.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.96 ₹281

$2.93 ₹278

1.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 ₹241

$1.78 ₹169

42.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 ₹76.3

$0.78 ₹74.0

2.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 ₹138

$1.09 ₹103

33.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 ₹64.5

$0.64 ₹60.7

6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 ₹28.60

$0.33 ₹31.42

-9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₹36.38

$0.37 ₹35.57

2.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 ₹29.35

$0.66 ₹62.6

-53.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₹24.65

$0.33 ₹30.90

-21.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 ₹489

$5.18 ₹492

-0.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 ₹986

$11.46 ₹1,088

-9.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₹163

$1.73 ₹164

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₹255

$2.68 ₹254

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

$7.04 ₹669

$6.53 ₹620

7.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₹14.59

$0.31 ₹29.21

-51.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.13 ₹202

$3.72 ₹353

-42.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 ₹54.1

$1.03 ₹97.6

-44.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 ₹29.25

$0.25 ₹23.85

24.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₹170

$1.61 ₹153

11.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ₹103

$1.07 ₹102

0.93%

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

$14.3K ₹1.4M

$12.5K ₹1.2M

14.14%

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

$21.3K ₹2.0M

$25.3K ₹2.4M

-16.12%

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

$55.1 ₹5,231

$45.40 ₹4,312

21.34%

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

$5.06 ₹481

$4.71 ₹447

7.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.06 ₹671

$6.70 ₹636

5.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.23 ₹1,351

$21.10 ₹2,004

-32.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.69 ₹1,015

$8.07 ₹767

32.47%

Cinema Ticket

$3.75 ₹356

$3.23 ₹307

16.10%

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

$45.21 ₹4,293

$60.0 ₹5,696

-24.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,963 ₹186.4K

$2,493 ₹236.7K

-21.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.97 ₹2,371

$27.30 ₹2,592

-8.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.58 ₹2,144

$25.12 ₹2,386

-10.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.25 ₹2,967

$56.8 ₹5,395

-45.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.49 ₹2,515

$43.72 ₹4,151

-39.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 ₹15.4K

$174 ₹16.5K

-6.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.1 ₹9,026

$116 ₹11.0K

-17.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₹39.0K

$466 ₹44.3K

-11.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₹20.0K

$284 ₹27.0K

-25.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,242 ₹118.0K

$2,973 ₹282.4K

-58.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$617 ₹58.6K

$1,786 ₹169.6K

-65.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 ₹36.2K

$431 ₹40.9K

-11.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.27

15.87%

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

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): August 29, 2026

Last update for Chandigarh: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $174 in Chandigarh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chandigarh pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $13.00 in Chandigarh. Groceries flip the comparison at $117 vs $116, with Chandigarh cheaper for home cooking.

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 Chandigarh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Chandigarh. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolkata (Calcutta) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Chandigarh. 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: $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $174 in Chandigarh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 75% less than in Chandigarh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $45.21 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $60.0 in Chandigarh. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Chandigarh 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Chandigarh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.