😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $543 in Shiraz versus $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta).
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $809 in Shiraz versus $658 in Kolkata (Calcutta).
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,074 in Shiraz versus $893 in Kolkata (Calcutta).
🌍Living in Shiraz is roughly 28% more expensive than in Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Shiraz60% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta)69% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shiraz
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43$4.43
$2.05₹196
116.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.19$13.19
$15.47₹1,485
-14.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.88$3.88
$4.10₹393
-5.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.02$1.02
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.18$1.18
$1.66₹160
-28.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62$0.62
$0.43₹41.44
44.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.14₹13.07
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.84₹176
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.22₹309
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shiraz
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.72$0.72
$0.64₹61.5
12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45$0.45
$0.46₹44.06
-2.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97$1.97
$0.72₹68.7
173.61%
Eggs
$1.18$1.18
$1.02₹97.7
15.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.28$2.28
$5.48₹526
-58.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95$2.95
$2.97₹285
-0.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.76$9.76
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.07$1.07
$2.36₹226
-54.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61$1.61
$0.76₹73.0
111.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.89$0.89
$1.49₹143
-40.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56$0.56
$0.68₹65.2
-17.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54$0.54
$0.29₹28.14
86.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56$0.56
$0.39₹37.37
43.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47$0.47
$0.33₹31.19
42.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22$0.22
$0.28₹26.96
-21.43%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.83$0.83
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.56$0.56
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68$1.68
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91$2.91
$5.03₹482
-42.15%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.29₹988
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.66₹159
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.77₹265
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.48₹621
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shiraz
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11$0.11
$0.15₹14.16
-26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$2.94$2.94
$2.58₹248
13.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39$0.39
$0.86₹82.8
-54.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.19$0.19
$0.32₹30.89
-40.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.42$3.42
$1.61₹154
112.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.08₹103
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$65.4K$65.4K
$14.5K₹1.4M
350.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.3K$54.3K
$21.5K₹2.1M
152.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shiraz
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$24.06$24.06
$55.0₹5,278
-56.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.98$1.98
$4.85₹465
-59.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.78$16.78
$6.81₹653
146.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shiraz
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.93$18.93
$14.89₹1,429
27.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.51$13.51
$10.88₹1,044
24.17%
Cinema Ticket
$2.01$2.01
$3.34₹320
-39.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shiraz
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$103$103
$41.18₹3,951
151.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,391$2,391
$1,997₹191.6K
19.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shiraz
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.78$22.78
$24.12₹2,314
-5.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.69$18.69
$23.22₹2,228
-19.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0$96.0
$33.14₹3,180
189.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5$55.5
$25.98₹2,492
113.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shiraz
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286$286
$152₹14.5K
89.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$220$220
$92.2₹8,849
138.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$537$537
$385₹36.9K
39.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$316$316
$201₹19.3K
57.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,157$1,157
$1,204₹115.5K
-3.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$513$513
$620₹59.5K
-17.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shiraz
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$237$237
$406₹38.9K
-41.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23.8
9.17
159.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shiraz: September 12, 2026
Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Shiraz and $152 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 71% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $13.00 in Shiraz vs $15.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $104 vs $116 per month, with Shiraz cheaper across the board.
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
Shiraz vs Kolkata (Calcutta): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Shiraz or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Shiraz. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolkata (Calcutta) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Shiraz or in Kolkata (Calcutta)?
On paper, salaries run 71% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Shiraz compared to Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Shiraz versus $152 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Shiraz compared to Kolkata (Calcutta)?
All in, you'll spend $543 per month in Shiraz versus $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta) – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Shiraz compared to Kolkata (Calcutta)?
A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 14% less than in Shiraz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Shiraz or in Kolkata (Calcutta)?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Shiraz or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
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.
How safe is Shiraz compared to Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Safety-wise, Shiraz 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kolkata (Calcutta) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Shiraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.