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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $450 in Ranchi versus $433 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

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

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

Living in Ranchi is roughly 4% more expensive than Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ₹298

$3.29 ₹313

-4.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.22 ₹1,070

$11.48 ₹1,095

-2.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ₹570

$4.95 ₹472

20.81%

Cappuccino

$1.47 ₹140

$1.81 ₹173

-18.78%

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

$0.42 ₹40.48

$0.37 ₹35.34

13.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.11 ₹10.76

$0.13 ₹12.13

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ₹228

$1.70 ₹162

40.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 ₹377

$2.97 ₹283

33.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 ₹63.2

$0.67 ₹64.0

-1.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 ₹35.54

$0.39 ₹37.47

-5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.47 ₹45.02

$0.66 ₹63.2

-28.79%

Eggs

$1.00 ₹95.4

$0.98 ₹93.2

2.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.08 ₹485

$5.31 ₹506

-4.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.23 ₹213

$2.88 ₹274

-22.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 ₹136

$2.46 ₹235

-42.28%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 ₹63.6

$0.81 ₹77.2

-17.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 ₹75.9

$1.32 ₹126

-39.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 ₹48.61

$0.66 ₹63.0

-22.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 ₹36.54

$0.38 ₹35.82

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 ₹44.40

$0.60 ₹57.2

-21.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 ₹32.53

$0.44 ₹42.42

-22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₹29.88

$0.31 ₹29.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 ₹384

$4.05 ₹386

-0.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.74 ₹452

$8.59 ₹819

-44.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₹102

$1.74 ₹166

-38.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₹225

$2.52 ₹240

-6.35%

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

$4.45 ₹424

$7.66 ₹730

-41.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.87

$0.22 ₹20.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.53 ₹2,243

$2.93 ₹279

703.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ₹161

$0.55 ₹52.9

207.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ₹31.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₹113

$1.99 ₹189

-40.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₹111

$1.24 ₹118

-6.45%

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

$8,849 ₹843.6K

$15.8K ₹1.5M

-43.89%

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

$20.7K ₹2.0M

$22.3K ₹2.1M

-6.98%

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

$69.7 ₹6,643

$42.63 ₹4,064

63.43%

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

$5.46 ₹521

$3.91 ₹372

39.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.57 ₹722

$7.30 ₹696

3.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.23 ₹2,024

$15.82 ₹1,508

34.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.27 ₹1,170

$11.78 ₹1,123

4.16%

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 ₹282

$3.96 ₹377

-25.51%

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

$49.41 ₹4,711

$44.30 ₹4,223

11.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,450 ₹138.2K

$1,564 ₹149.1K

-7.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.49 ₹3,193

$28.62 ₹2,729

17.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.41 ₹3,090

$29.83 ₹2,844

8.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.62 ₹4,540

$49.98 ₹4,765

-4.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.18 ₹2,877

$31.68 ₹3,021

-4.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 ₹10.9K

$161 ₹15.4K

-29.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.1 ₹7,449

$90.1 ₹8,592

-13.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 ₹24.0K

$377 ₹35.9K

-33.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 ₹17.9K

$192 ₹18.3K

-2.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 ₹108.8K

$1,156 ₹110.2K

-1.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$718 ₹68.4K

$580 ₹55.3K

23.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$318 ₹30.3K

$464 ₹44.3K

-31.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.94

9.9

40.81%

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

Last update for Ranchi: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $114 in Ranchi and $161 in Kolkata (Calcutta). 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 Ranchi vs $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $86.0 vs $112 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

Ranchi vs Kolkata (Calcutta): 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.

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

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