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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $677 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $932 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) costs roughly 82% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) is 68% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16 ₹305
$16.19 €14.17
-80.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.50 ₹1,107
$63.3 €55.4
-81.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 ₹474
$10.32 €9.03
-52.33%
Cappuccino
$1.84 ₹177
$2.83 €2.48
-34.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₹36.27
$2.29 €2.00
-83.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 ₹12.57
$1.58 €1.38
-91.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₹171
$3.40 €2.98
-47.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₹281
$4.03 €3.52
-27.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 ₹66.4
$1.09 €0.95
-36.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 ₹40.77
$1.75 €1.53
-76.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.70 ₹67.9
$1.76 €1.54
-60.23%
Eggs
$1.02 ₹98.1
$3.17 €2.77
-67.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.33 ₹513
$13.19 €11.54
-59.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.92 ₹281
$7.97 €6.97
-63.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$15.53 €13.59
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.54 ₹245
$2.37 €2.07
7.17%
Banana (1kg)
$0.81 ₹77.6
$1.71 €1.49
-52.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 ₹121
$2.01 €1.76
-37.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 ₹57.8
$2.43 €2.13
-75.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.40 ₹38.84
$1.76 €1.54
-77.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ₹57.2
$2.03 €1.78
-70.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 ₹40.30
$1.92 €1.68
-78.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₹29.33
$0.85 €0.74
-64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 ₹373
$6.58 €5.76
-41.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.17 ₹883
$5.58 €4.88
64.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 ₹160
$1.33 €1.17
24.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 ₹242
$2.97 €2.60
-15.15%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$7.55 ₹727
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₹21.11
$2.28 €1.99
-90.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$2.87 ₹277
$45.79 €40.06
-93.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 ₹53.8
$4.23 €3.70
-86.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.54
$0.81 €0.71
-62.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 ₹192
$18.44 €16.13
-89.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹118
$2.08 €1.82
-40.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.5K ₹1.5M
$34.7K €30.3K
-55.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K ₹2.2M
$39.2K €34.3K
-41.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.64 ₹4,009
$148 €130
-71.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 ₹391
$20.46 €17.90
-80.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.18 ₹691
$39.56 €34.61
-81.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.93 ₹1,534
$47.99 €41.99
-66.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.45 ₹1,102
$18.60 €16.27
-38.44%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 ₹384
$9.22 €8.07
-56.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.39 ₹4,177
$616 €539
-92.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,558 ₹150.0K
$16.4K €14.4K
-90.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.22 ₹2,717
$103 €89.9
-72.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.66 ₹2,952
$41.74 €36.52
-26.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.15 ₹4,732
$94.8 €82.9
-48.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.01 ₹3,082
$122 €107
-73.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$160 ₹15.4K
$1,633 €1,428
-90.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$89.5 ₹8,619
$1,232 €1,078
-92.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 ₹37.1K
$3,098 €2,711
-87.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 ₹18.1K
$2,031 €1,777
-90.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,161 ₹111.8K
$7,831 €6,851
-85.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$573 ₹55.2K
$4,389 €3,840
-86.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$373 ₹35.9K
$1,607 €1,406
-76.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.9
3.81
159.84%

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

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 331% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $267 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kolkata (Calcutta) or Lisbon?
Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 442% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolkata (Calcutta) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kolkata (Calcutta) or in Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 331% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kolkata (Calcutta) compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Kolkata (Calcutta) compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $423 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 442% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Kolkata (Calcutta) compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 1495% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kolkata (Calcutta) or in Lisbon?
At $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kolkata (Calcutta) but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kolkata (Calcutta) the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kolkata (Calcutta) or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kolkata (Calcutta) delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $423 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kolkata (Calcutta) hard to pass up.
How safe is Kolkata (Calcutta) compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kolkata (Calcutta) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 442% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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