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: $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $450 in Chandigarh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $677 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $731 in Chandigarh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $932 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $1,012 in Chandigarh.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) costs roughly 6% less than in Chandigarh, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower, Chandigarh 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 ₹305

$3.12 ₹300

1.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.50 ₹1,107

$14.08 ₹1,355

-18.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.92 ₹474

$3.53 ₹340

39.38%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₹177

$1.98 ₹191

-7.07%

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

$0.38 ₹36.28

$0.40 ₹38.41

-5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 ₹12.57

$0.20 ₹19.21

-35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 ₹171

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₹281

$2.88 ₹278

1.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 ₹66.4

$0.77 ₹74.2

-10.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 ₹40.78

$0.57 ₹54.9

-26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 ₹67.9

$0.82 ₹79.1

-14.63%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹98.1

$1.09 ₹105

-6.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.33 ₹513

$5.49 ₹528

-2.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 ₹281

$2.91 ₹281

0.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 ₹245

$2.05 ₹198

23.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹77.6

$0.75 ₹72.3

8.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ₹121

$0.99 ₹95.7

27.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.8

$0.56 ₹54.4

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 ₹38.85

$0.39 ₹37.80

2.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ₹57.2

$0.45 ₹43.77

31.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 ₹40.30

$0.46 ₹43.96

-8.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹29.33

$0.31 ₹30.32

-3.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 ₹373

$4.14 ₹398

-6.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₹883

$11.70 ₹1,126

-21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₹160

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₹242

$2.85 ₹275

-11.58%

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

$7.55 ₹727

$5.06 ₹487

49.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹21.12

$0.28 ₹26.69

-21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.87 ₹277

$8.68 ₹835

-66.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 ₹53.8

$0.79 ₹75.7

-29.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.54

$0.24 ₹23.11

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 ₹192

$1.31 ₹126

51.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₹118

$1.21 ₹116

1.65%

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

$15.5K ₹1.5M

$14.8K ₹1.4M

5.09%

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

$22.8K ₹2.2M

$28.9K ₹2.8M

-21.09%

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

$41.64 ₹4,009

$47.68 ₹4,590

-12.67%

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

$4.06 ₹391

$3.34 ₹321

21.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.18 ₹691

$7.17 ₹690

0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.93 ₹1,534

$19.79 ₹1,905

-19.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.45 ₹1,102

$10.31 ₹992

11.06%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 ₹384

$2.84 ₹273

40.49%

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

$43.39 ₹4,178

$61.9 ₹5,957

-29.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,558 ₹150.0K

$1,966 ₹189.3K

-20.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.22 ₹2,717

$24.88 ₹2,395

13.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.66 ₹2,952

$24.03 ₹2,314

27.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.15 ₹4,732

$48.63 ₹4,682

1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.01 ₹3,082

$32.59 ₹3,138

-1.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 ₹15.4K

$170 ₹16.4K

-6.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.5 ₹8,619

$104 ₹10.1K

-14.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₹37.1K

$411 ₹39.5K

-6.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 ₹18.1K

$267 ₹25.7K

-29.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,161 ₹111.8K

$3,017 ₹290.5K

-61.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$573 ₹55.2K

$1,782 ₹171.6K

-67.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 ₹35.9K

$471 ₹45.3K

-20.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

8.3

19.28%

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

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

Last update for Chandigarh: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $170 in Chandigarh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chandigarh pays 26% 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: $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $14.00 in Chandigarh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $119 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 Chandigarh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 6% 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 26% 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: $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $170 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 202% less than in Chandigarh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $43.39 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $61.9 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 6% less than in Chandigarh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.