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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $430 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $446 in Dehradun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $678 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $809 in Dehradun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $925 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $1,171 in Dehradun.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) costs roughly 4% less than in Dehradun, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower, Dehradun 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 ₹303

$2.35 ₹221

36.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.40 ₹1,075

$9.52 ₹898

19.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 ₹468

$3.97 ₹375

24.94%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₹168

$1.76 ₹166

1.70%

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

$0.38 ₹35.51

$0.41 ₹38.26

-7.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 ₹11.56

$0.18 ₹17.11

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 ₹167

$2.04 ₹192

-13.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₹280

$2.99 ₹282

-0.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₹68.8

$0.69 ₹65.5

5.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₹37.65

$0.49 ₹46.36

-18.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 ₹65.6

$0.77 ₹72.7

-9.09%

Eggs

$0.97 ₹91.6

$0.92 ₹87.0

5.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.35 ₹505

$4.67 ₹440

14.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.86 ₹270

$3.61 ₹340

-20.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 ₹231

$1.90 ₹179

28.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 ₹80.4

$0.75 ₹71.1

13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 ₹124

$0.76 ₹71.6

72.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 ₹58.1

$0.56 ₹52.7

10.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 ₹35.31

$0.34 ₹32.32

8.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ₹55.8

$0.41 ₹39.04

43.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 ₹39.61

$0.56 ₹52.5

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₹29.14

$0.35 ₹32.93

-11.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 ₹381

$4.32 ₹408

-6.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.70 ₹821

$10.09 ₹952

-13.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₹158

$1.78 ₹168

-6.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₹230

$2.34 ₹221

3.85%

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

$7.37 ₹695

$5.95 ₹561

23.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.65

$0.28 ₹26.14

-21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.82 ₹266

$13.82 ₹1,303

-79.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 ₹56.3

$0.78 ₹73.6

-23.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ₹27.81

$0.22 ₹20.74

31.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 ₹190

$2.01 ₹189

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₹112

$1.18 ₹111

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

$15.5K ₹1.5M

$12.9K ₹1.2M

19.88%

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

$22.8K ₹2.2M

$20.0K ₹1.9M

13.90%

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

$42.24 ₹3,985

$40.63 ₹3,832

3.96%

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

$3.94 ₹371

$3.66 ₹345

7.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.37 ₹695

$7.28 ₹687

1.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.33 ₹1,540

$16.45 ₹1,551

-0.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.68 ₹1,101

$10.68 ₹1,007

9.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.08 ₹385

$5.55 ₹523

-26.49%

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

$44.11 ₹4,160

$66.3 ₹6,255

-33.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,596 ₹150.5K

$1,110 ₹104.7K

43.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.96 ₹2,638

$22.24 ₹2,097

25.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.70 ₹2,896

$28.57 ₹2,695

7.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.88 ₹4,705

$46.84 ₹4,418

6.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.43 ₹2,964

$43.28 ₹4,082

-27.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 ₹15.1K

$181 ₹17.0K

-11.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.0 ₹8,304

$109 ₹10.3K

-19.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₹36.6K

$414 ₹39.0K

-6.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 ₹18.1K

$472 ₹44.5K

-59.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,160 ₹109.4K

$725 ₹68.4K

60.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 ₹54.9K

$473 ₹44.6K

22.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$398 ₹37.6K

$368 ₹34.7K

8.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

8.25

20.00%

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

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): June 15, 2026

Last update for Dehradun: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $181 in Dehradun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $10.00 in Dehradun. Groceries flip the comparison at $112 vs $113, with Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Dehradun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolkata (Calcutta) is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Kolkata (Calcutta), which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $181 in Dehradun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Dehradun. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta) – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $10.00 in Dehradun. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 Dehradun 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 4% less than in Dehradun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.