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: $431 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $460 in Dehradun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $823 in Dehradun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $926 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $1,185 in Dehradun.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.11 ₹296

$2.39 ₹227

30.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.85 ₹1,125

$9.31 ₹884

27.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 ₹478

$3.98 ₹378

26.63%

Cappuccino

$1.82 ₹172

$1.75 ₹167

4.00%

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

$0.41 ₹38.72

$0.44 ₹41.82

-6.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ₹14.95

$0.19 ₹17.60

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₹170

$2.02 ₹192

-11.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 ₹271

$2.93 ₹278

-2.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 ₹68.8

$0.75 ₹71.5

-4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₹37.81

$0.45 ₹43.08

-11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 ₹65.9

$0.71 ₹67.3

-2.82%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹96.6

$0.90 ₹85.5

13.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.33 ₹506

$4.66 ₹442

14.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ₹280

$3.54 ₹336

-16.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 ₹231

$1.95 ₹185

24.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹76.5

$0.68 ₹65.0

19.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ₹120

$0.79 ₹75.3

59.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 ₹61.7

$0.55 ₹52.2

18.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 ₹38.28

$0.35 ₹32.77

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₹56.6

$0.45 ₹42.65

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 ₹42.57

$0.55 ₹52.5

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹28.90

$0.38 ₹35.79

-21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.85 ₹366

$4.37 ₹415

-11.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.30 ₹883

$10.30 ₹978

-9.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₹159

$1.71 ₹162

-2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₹231

$2.33 ₹221

4.29%

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

$7.42 ₹705

$5.96 ₹565

24.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₹22.90

$0.30 ₹28.62

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.82 ₹268

$13.99 ₹1,329

-79.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 ₹56.9

$0.79 ₹74.7

-24.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ₹30.63

$0.22 ₹20.87

45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₹197

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₹118

$1.14 ₹108

8.77%

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

$15.4K ₹1.5M

$13.0K ₹1.2M

18.75%

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

$22.3K ₹2.1M

$20.3K ₹1.9M

9.73%

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

$41.22 ₹3,914

$40.89 ₹3,882

0.81%

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

$3.96 ₹376

$3.82 ₹363

3.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.35 ₹698

$7.28 ₹691

0.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.12 ₹1,530

$16.61 ₹1,577

-2.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.59 ₹1,101

$10.82 ₹1,028

7.12%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 ₹393

$5.41 ₹513

-23.48%

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

$43.87 ₹4,165

$64.8 ₹6,149

-32.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,598 ₹151.7K

$1,111 ₹105.5K

43.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.71 ₹2,726

$21.67 ₹2,058

32.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.95 ₹2,843

$28.23 ₹2,680

6.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.2 ₹4,765

$47.78 ₹4,536

5.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.26 ₹2,968

$43.43 ₹4,123

-28.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 ₹15.3K

$179 ₹17.0K

-9.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.7 ₹8,328

$111 ₹10.6K

-21.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 ₹36.3K

$410 ₹38.9K

-6.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 ₹18.5K

$481 ₹45.7K

-59.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,159 ₹110.0K

$746 ₹70.8K

55.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$564 ₹53.5K

$468 ₹44.4K

20.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$421 ₹40.0K

$365 ₹34.7K

15.45%

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): April 27, 2026

Last update for Dehradun: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $179 in Dehradun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $9.00 in Dehradun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $112 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 Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 15% more on average, 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: $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $179 in Dehradun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Dehradun pay roughly 1% 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 $12.00 versus $9.00 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 7% less than in Dehradun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.