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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $422 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $387 in Patna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $668 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $587 in Patna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $915 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $787 in Patna.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) is roughly 9% more expensive than in Patna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 69% lower, Patna 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 ₹199

$2.15 ₹206

-2.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.98 ₹1,240

$9.78 ₹934

32.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 ₹402

$3.13 ₹299

34.50%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₹155

$1.67 ₹159

-2.40%

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

$0.47 ₹45.04

$0.36 ₹34.23

30.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 ₹13.80

$0.16 ₹15.34

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 ₹176

$2.05 ₹196

-10.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 ₹312

$5.95 ₹568

-45.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 ₹64.1

$0.67 ₹63.7

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₹41.88

$0.43 ₹41.18

2.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 ₹69.4

$0.57 ₹54.9

28.07%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹97.1

$0.97 ₹92.4

5.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.57 ₹532

$6.72 ₹642

-17.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ₹292

$2.21 ₹211

38.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 ₹233

$1.37 ₹130

77.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 ₹79.8

$0.67 ₹63.8

25.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ₹146

$1.05 ₹99.9

45.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 ₹65.3

$0.46 ₹43.67

47.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 ₹28.75

$0.36 ₹34.06

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ₹40.87

$0.49 ₹47.12

-12.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 ₹28.19

$0.47 ₹44.77

-36.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₹27.92

$0.30 ₹28.99

-3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.21 ₹497

$5.06 ₹484

2.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.71 ₹1,024

$6.33 ₹604

69.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₹160

$1.59 ₹152

5.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₹259

$2.17 ₹207

25.35%

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

$6.95 ₹664

$6.62 ₹633

4.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 ₹14.89

$0.31 ₹29.58

-48.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.58 ₹247

$4.78 ₹456

-46.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 ₹57.3

$1.29 ₹123

-53.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ₹32.01

$0.16 ₹15.59

112.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 ₹148

$2.13 ₹203

-27.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₹104

$1.08 ₹103

0.93%

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

$14.2K ₹1.4M

$14.0K ₹1.3M

1.21%

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

$21.3K ₹2.0M

$27.3K ₹2.6M

-22.06%

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

$57.0 ₹5,447

$44.93 ₹4,293

26.89%

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

$5.04 ₹482

$2.77 ₹265

81.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.14 ₹682

$6.39 ₹611

11.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.12 ₹1,349

$21.66 ₹2,069

-34.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.06 ₹1,056

$12.25 ₹1,170

-9.71%

Cinema Ticket

$3.79 ₹362

$3.41 ₹325

11.14%

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

$40.03 ₹3,824

$54.7 ₹5,223

-26.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,023 ₹193.3K

$1,680 ₹160.5K

20.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.70 ₹2,360

$24.42 ₹2,333

1.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.83 ₹2,181

$29.43 ₹2,812

-22.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.48 ₹3,199

$38.93 ₹3,719

-14.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.83 ₹2,564

$33.43 ₹3,194

-19.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 ₹14.9K

$106 ₹10.1K

47.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.1 ₹8,801

$62.2 ₹5,942

48.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₹38.2K

$249 ₹23.7K

60.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ₹19.6K

$131 ₹12.5K

56.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,244 ₹118.9K

$1,297 ₹123.9K

-4.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$629 ₹60.1K

$512 ₹48.9K

23.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$412 ₹39.4K

$345 ₹33.0K

19.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.27

9.46

-2.01%

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

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): September 5, 2026

Last update for Patna: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $156 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $106 in Patna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 19% 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: $13.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $10.00 in Patna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $118 vs $98.0 per month, with Patna 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 Patna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Patna wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Patna the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 19% 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: $156 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $106 in Patna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $422 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $387 in Patna – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Patna runs roughly 85% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Patna 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.

Expats usually find Patna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.