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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $485 in Mashhad versus $417 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $781 in Mashhad versus $665 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,077 in Mashhad versus $912 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Living in Mashhad is roughly 16% more expensive than in Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 65% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$2.04 ₹194

50.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.67 $18.67

$13.29 ₹1,262

40.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.13 ₹392

23.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.60 $0.60

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

Cappuccino

$1.14 $1.14

$1.64 ₹156

-30.49%

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.43 ₹41.23

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 $0.26

$0.13 ₹12.70

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 ₹182

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ₹297

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.70 ₹66.9

-12.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.46 ₹43.66

-58.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.72 ₹68.5

169.44%

Eggs

$1.11 $1.11

$1.05 ₹100

5.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$5.47 ₹520

-62.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.96 ₹281

-8.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.27 $10.27

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 $0.95

$2.53 ₹241

-62.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.80 ₹76.3

92.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.46 ₹138

-45.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.68 ₹64.5

-8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.30 ₹28.60

63.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.38 ₹36.38

18.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.31 ₹29.35

54.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.26 ₹24.65

11.54%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 $0.92

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 $2.96

$5.15 ₹489

-42.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 ₹986

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₹163

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₹255

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

$7.04 ₹669

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.02 $0.02

$0.15 ₹14.59

-86.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.61 $3.61

$2.13 ₹202

69.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.18 $0.18

$0.57 ₹54.1

-68.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.31 ₹29.25

64.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.79 ₹170

13.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.08 ₹103

-27.78%

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

$60.1K $60.1K

$14.3K ₹1.4M

321.17%

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

$66.0K $66.0K

$21.3K ₹2.0M

210.39%

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

$13.70 $13.70

$55.1 ₹5,231

-75.13%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$5.06 ₹481

-48.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.04 $28.04

$7.06 ₹671

297.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.30 $19.30

$14.23 ₹1,351

35.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 $15.13

$10.69 ₹1,015

41.53%

Cinema Ticket

$1.96 $1.96

$3.75 ₹356

-47.73%

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

$40.00 $40.00

$45.21 ₹4,293

-11.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$630 $630

$1,963 ₹186.4K

-67.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.27 $20.27

$24.97 ₹2,371

-18.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.27 $39.27

$22.58 ₹2,144

73.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 $95.0

$31.25 ₹2,967

204.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.5 $68.5

$26.49 ₹2,515

158.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$207 $207

$162 ₹15.4K

27.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 $149

$95.1 ₹9,026

56.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 $389

$411 ₹39.0K

-5.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 $272

$210 ₹20.0K

29.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,153 $1,153

$1,242 ₹118.0K

-7.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$690 $690

$617 ₹58.6K

11.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$254 $254

$381 ₹36.2K

-33.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.6

9.27

133.01%

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

Last update for Mashhad: August 29, 2026

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $207 in Mashhad and $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Mashhad vs $13.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Groceries flip the comparison at $99.0 vs $117, with Mashhad cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Mashhad vs Kolkata (Calcutta): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Mashhad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolkata (Calcutta) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Kolkata (Calcutta). That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $207 in Mashhad versus $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $485 per month in Mashhad versus $417 in Kolkata (Calcutta) – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 69% less than in Mashhad. 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.

Safety-wise, Mashhad and Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 16% less than in Mashhad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.