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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $425 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $442 in Ranchi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $696 in Ranchi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $916 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $949 in Ranchi.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) costs roughly 4% less than in Ranchi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.25 ₹305

$3.24 ₹304

0.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.82 ₹1,110

$11.01 ₹1,033

7.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.02 ₹472

$5.91 ₹555

-15.06%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₹167

$1.53 ₹144

16.34%

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

$0.40 ₹37.76

$0.42 ₹39.79

-4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 ₹12.91

$0.13 ₹12.64

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 ₹165

$2.43 ₹228

-27.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₹267

$4.05 ₹380

-29.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 ₹63.0

$0.65 ₹61.0

3.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 ₹36.60

$0.41 ₹38.04

-4.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 ₹66.2

$0.46 ₹43.61

52.17%

Eggs

$1.01 ₹95.2

$1.00 ₹93.7

1.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.32 ₹499

$5.17 ₹486

2.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.85 ₹268

$2.24 ₹210

27.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 ₹237

$1.43 ₹135

76.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 ₹79.6

$0.69 ₹64.8

23.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 ₹117

$0.74 ₹69.8

67.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ₹56.7

$0.54 ₹50.8

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 ₹35.04

$0.38 ₹35.69

-2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ₹55.6

$0.50 ₹47.04

18.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 ₹41.31

$0.35 ₹32.43

25.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₹28.98

$0.29 ₹27.13

6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 ₹378

$4.22 ₹396

-4.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.51 ₹892

$5.03 ₹473

89.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₹158

$1.08 ₹101

55.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 ₹231

$2.25 ₹211

9.78%

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

$7.62 ₹715

$4.37 ₹411

74.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.54

$0.22 ₹20.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.97 ₹279

$23.38 ₹2,194

-87.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 ₹52.4

$1.71 ₹160

-67.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ₹30.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 ₹193

$1.17 ₹110

76.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₹113

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

$15.6K ₹1.5M

$8,631 ₹810.1K

80.64%

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

$22.6K ₹2.1M

$20.4K ₹1.9M

10.97%

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

$41.59 ₹3,904

$68.4 ₹6,420

-39.20%

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

$3.88 ₹364

$5.51 ₹517

-29.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.03 ₹660

$7.51 ₹705

-6.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.77 ₹1,480

$21.73 ₹2,040

-27.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.80 ₹1,107

$11.99 ₹1,126

-1.58%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ₹373

$2.85 ₹267

39.65%

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

$44.55 ₹4,182

$50.4 ₹4,728

-11.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,597 ₹149.9K

$1,481 ₹139.0K

7.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.48 ₹2,673

$32.77 ₹3,076

-13.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.58 ₹2,776

$32.59 ₹3,059

-9.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.72 ₹4,667

$48.90 ₹4,590

1.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.84 ₹2,988

$30.82 ₹2,893

3.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 ₹15.2K

$111 ₹10.5K

45.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.5 ₹8,397

$78.6 ₹7,373

13.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₹36.6K

$255 ₹24.0K

52.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 ₹17.9K

$188 ₹17.6K

1.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,152 ₹108.1K

$1,142 ₹107.2K

0.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$583 ₹54.7K

$762 ₹71.5K

-23.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$430 ₹40.3K

$303 ₹28.4K

42.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

13.94

-28.98%

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

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): April 22, 2026

Last update for Ranchi: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $111 in Ranchi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $11 in Ranchi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $87 per month, with Ranchi 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 Ranchi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Ranchi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolkata (Calcutta) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 42% 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 $111 in Ranchi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $425 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $442 in Ranchi – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 687% less than in Ranchi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.

Expats usually find Kolkata (Calcutta) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Ranchi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.