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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Patna costs roughly 8% less than in Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 ₹206

$2.09 ₹199

2.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.78 ₹934

$12.98 ₹1,240

-24.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 ₹299

$4.21 ₹402

-25.65%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ₹159

$1.63 ₹155

2.45%

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

$0.36 ₹34.23

$0.47 ₹45.04

-23.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ₹15.34

$0.14 ₹13.80

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 ₹196

$1.84 ₹176

11.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 ₹568

$3.26 ₹312

82.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 ₹63.7

$0.67 ₹64.1

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₹41.18

$0.44 ₹41.88

-2.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.57 ₹54.9

$0.73 ₹69.4

-21.92%

Eggs

$0.97 ₹92.4

$1.02 ₹97.1

-4.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.72 ₹642

$5.57 ₹532

20.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.21 ₹211

$3.06 ₹292

-27.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 ₹130

$2.43 ₹233

-43.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 ₹63.8

$0.84 ₹79.8

-20.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 ₹99.9

$1.53 ₹146

-31.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 ₹43.67

$0.68 ₹65.3

-32.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 ₹34.06

$0.30 ₹28.75

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ₹47.12

$0.43 ₹40.87

13.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 ₹44.77

$0.30 ₹28.19

56.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹28.99

$0.29 ₹27.92

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 ₹484

$5.21 ₹497

-2.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.33 ₹604

$10.71 ₹1,024

-40.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₹152

$1.67 ₹160

-4.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₹207

$2.72 ₹259

-20.22%

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

$6.62 ₹633

$6.95 ₹664

-4.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ₹29.58

$0.16 ₹14.89

93.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.78 ₹456

$2.58 ₹247

85.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ₹123

$0.60 ₹57.3

115.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.16 ₹15.59

$0.34 ₹32.01

-52.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.13 ₹203

$1.55 ₹148

37.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ₹103

$1.09 ₹104

-0.92%

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

$14.0K ₹1.3M

$14.2K ₹1.4M

-1.19%

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

$27.3K ₹2.6M

$21.3K ₹2.0M

28.30%

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

$44.93 ₹4,293

$57.0 ₹5,447

-21.19%

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

$2.77 ₹265

$5.04 ₹482

-45.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.39 ₹611

$7.14 ₹682

-10.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.66 ₹2,069

$14.12 ₹1,349

53.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.25 ₹1,170

$11.06 ₹1,056

10.76%

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 ₹325

$3.79 ₹362

-10.03%

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

$54.7 ₹5,223

$40.03 ₹3,824

36.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,680 ₹160.5K

$2,023 ₹193.3K

-16.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.42 ₹2,333

$24.70 ₹2,360

-1.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.43 ₹2,812

$22.83 ₹2,181

28.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.93 ₹3,719

$33.48 ₹3,199

16.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.43 ₹3,194

$26.83 ₹2,564

24.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 ₹10.1K

$156 ₹14.9K

-32.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$62.2 ₹5,942

$92.1 ₹8,801

-32.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₹23.7K

$399 ₹38.2K

-37.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$131 ₹12.5K

$205 ₹19.6K

-36.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,297 ₹123.9K

$1,244 ₹118.9K

4.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 ₹48.9K

$629 ₹60.1K

-18.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$345 ₹33.0K

$412 ₹39.4K

-16.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

9.27

2.05%

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

Last update for Patna: September 6, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Patna and $156 in Kolkata (Calcutta). 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: $10.00 in Patna vs $13.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $98.0 vs $118 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

Patna vs Kolkata (Calcutta): 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.

On paper, salaries run 19% 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: $106 in Patna versus $156 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $387 per month in Patna versus $422 in Kolkata (Calcutta) – 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.