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: $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $503 in Dehradun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $658 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $741 in Dehradun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $893 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $978 in Dehradun.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) costs roughly 16% less than in Dehradun, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 69% lower, Dehradun 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₹196

$2.92 ₹280

-29.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.47 ₹1,485

$10.50 ₹1,008

47.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₹393

$3.60 ₹345

13.89%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ₹160

$2.09 ₹201

-20.57%

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

$0.43 ₹41.44

$0.38 ₹36.66

13.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 ₹13.07

$0.12 ₹11.99

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 ₹176

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 ₹309

$3.07 ₹295

4.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 ₹61.5

$0.68 ₹64.9

-5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₹44.06

$0.51 ₹49.26

-9.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 ₹68.7

$0.63 ₹60.9

14.29%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹97.7

$0.88 ₹84.8

15.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.48 ₹526

$5.32 ₹510

3.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.97 ₹285

$3.17 ₹304

-6.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 ₹226

$1.90 ₹183

24.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 ₹73.0

$0.71 ₹67.7

7.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ₹143

$0.67 ₹64.4

122.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 ₹65.2

$0.45 ₹42.89

51.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 ₹28.14

$0.30 ₹28.89

-3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 ₹37.37

$0.33 ₹32.04

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 ₹31.19

$0.49 ₹47.06

-32.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₹26.96

$0.27 ₹25.84

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.03 ₹482

$4.67 ₹448

7.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 ₹988

$10.15 ₹973

1.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₹159

$1.47 ₹141

12.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ₹265

$2.03 ₹195

36.45%

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

$6.48 ₹621

$4.89 ₹469

32.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₹14.16

$0.35 ₹33.98

-57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.58 ₹248

$12.39 ₹1,188

-79.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₹82.8

$1.01 ₹97.4

-14.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ₹30.89

$0.30 ₹28.52

6.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 ₹154

$1.54 ₹148

4.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ₹103

$1.06 ₹102

1.89%

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

$14.5K ₹1.4M

$12.8K ₹1.2M

13.53%

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

$21.5K ₹2.1M

$18.2K ₹1.7M

18.29%

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

$55.0 ₹5,278

$63.0 ₹6,040

-12.63%

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

$4.85 ₹465

$3.55 ₹341

36.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.81 ₹653

$7.28 ₹698

-6.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.89 ₹1,429

$16.05 ₹1,540

-7.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.88 ₹1,044

$9.61 ₹922

13.22%

Cinema Ticket

$3.34 ₹320

$3.62 ₹347

-7.73%

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

$41.18 ₹3,951

$48.70 ₹4,672

-15.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,997 ₹191.6K

$4,219 ₹404.8K

-52.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.12 ₹2,314

$24.51 ₹2,351

-1.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.22 ₹2,228

$27.29 ₹2,618

-14.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.14 ₹3,180

$39.58 ₹3,797

-16.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.98 ₹2,492

$39.75 ₹3,814

-34.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 ₹14.5K

$215 ₹20.7K

-29.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.2 ₹8,849

$152 ₹14.6K

-39.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₹36.9K

$414 ₹39.7K

-7.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ₹19.3K

$259 ₹24.8K

-22.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,204 ₹115.5K

$732 ₹70.2K

64.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$620 ₹59.5K

$457 ₹43.9K

35.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$406 ₹38.9K

$362 ₹34.7K

12.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.17

8.88

3.27%

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

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

Last update for Dehradun: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $152 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $215 in Dehradun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $11.00 in Dehradun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $107 per month, with Dehradun 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 Dehradun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolkata (Calcutta) is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 12% 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: $152 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $215 in Dehradun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Dehradun pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta) – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $11.00 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 19% less than in Dehradun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.