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: $433 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $450 in Ranchi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $673 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $687 in Ranchi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $914 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $924 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

$3.29 ₹313

$3.13 ₹298

5.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.48 ₹1,095

$11.22 ₹1,070

2.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 ₹472

$5.98 ₹570

-17.22%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ₹173

$1.47 ₹140

23.13%

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

$0.37 ₹35.34

$0.42 ₹40.48

-11.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 ₹12.13

$0.11 ₹10.76

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 ₹162

$2.39 ₹228

-28.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₹283

$3.95 ₹377

-24.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 ₹64.0

$0.66 ₹63.2

1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 ₹37.47

$0.37 ₹35.54

5.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 ₹63.2

$0.47 ₹45.02

40.43%

Eggs

$0.98 ₹93.2

$1.00 ₹95.4

-2.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.31 ₹506

$5.08 ₹485

4.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.88 ₹274

$2.23 ₹213

29.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 ₹235

$1.42 ₹136

73.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹77.2

$0.67 ₹63.6

20.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 ₹126

$0.80 ₹75.9

65.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 ₹63.0

$0.51 ₹48.61

29.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 ₹35.82

$0.38 ₹36.54

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.2

$0.47 ₹44.40

27.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 ₹42.42

$0.34 ₹32.53

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₹29.19

$0.31 ₹29.88

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 ₹386

$4.03 ₹384

0.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.59 ₹819

$4.74 ₹452

81.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₹166

$1.07 ₹102

62.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₹240

$2.36 ₹225

6.78%

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

$7.66 ₹730

$4.45 ₹424

72.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.92

$0.22 ₹20.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.93 ₹279

$23.53 ₹2,243

-87.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 ₹52.9

$1.69 ₹161

-67.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ₹31.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 ₹189

$1.18 ₹113

68.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₹118

$1.16 ₹111

6.90%

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

$15.8K ₹1.5M

$8,849 ₹843.6K

78.23%

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

$22.3K ₹2.1M

$20.7K ₹2.0M

7.50%

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

$42.63 ₹4,064

$69.7 ₹6,643

-38.81%

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

$3.91 ₹372

$5.46 ₹521

-28.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.30 ₹696

$7.57 ₹722

-3.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.82 ₹1,508

$21.23 ₹2,024

-25.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.78 ₹1,123

$12.27 ₹1,170

-3.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 ₹377

$2.95 ₹282

34.24%

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

$44.30 ₹4,223

$49.41 ₹4,711

-10.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,564 ₹149.1K

$1,450 ₹138.2K

7.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.62 ₹2,729

$33.49 ₹3,193

-14.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.83 ₹2,844

$32.41 ₹3,090

-7.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.98 ₹4,765

$47.62 ₹4,540

4.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.68 ₹3,021

$30.18 ₹2,877

4.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$161 ₹15.4K

$114 ₹10.9K

41.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.1 ₹8,592

$78.1 ₹7,449

15.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₹35.9K

$252 ₹24.0K

49.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 ₹18.3K

$187 ₹17.9K

2.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,156 ₹110.2K

$1,141 ₹108.8K

1.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$580 ₹55.3K

$718 ₹68.4K

-19.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$464 ₹44.3K

$318 ₹30.3K

46.08%

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): June 7, 2026

Last update for Ranchi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $161 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $114 in Ranchi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $11.00 in Ranchi. Groceries flip the comparison at $112 vs $86.0, with Ranchi cheaper for home cooking.

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 46% 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: $161 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $114 in Ranchi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $433 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $450 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 703% 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.