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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $913 in Surat versus $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $951 in Surat versus $677 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $989 in Surat versus $932 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Living in Surat is roughly 116% more expensive than in Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surat 32% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₹344

$3.16 ₹305

12.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.68 ₹1,125

$11.50 ₹1,107

1.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.41 ₹329

$4.92 ₹474

-30.69%

Cappuccino

$1.70 ₹164

$1.84 ₹177

-7.61%

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

$0.42 ₹40.54

$0.38 ₹36.28

10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ₹16.79

$0.13 ₹12.57

30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 ₹317

$1.78 ₹171

84.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 ₹397

$2.92 ₹281

41.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 ₹71.5

$0.69 ₹66.4

7.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 ₹50.9

$0.42 ₹40.78

26.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 ₹65.0

$0.70 ₹67.9

-4.29%

Eggs

$0.99 ₹95.1

$1.02 ₹98.1

-2.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.14 ₹495

$5.33 ₹513

-3.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.23 ₹311

$2.92 ₹281

10.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 ₹144

$2.54 ₹245

-40.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 ₹62.6

$0.81 ₹77.6

-19.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 ₹92.7

$1.26 ₹121

-23.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 ₹64.7

$0.60 ₹57.8

11.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 ₹34.27

$0.40 ₹38.85

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₹38.42

$0.59 ₹57.2

-32.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₹52.9

$0.42 ₹40.30

30.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₹32.88

$0.30 ₹29.33

13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 ₹374

$3.87 ₹373

0.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 ₹743

$9.17 ₹883

-15.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₹258

$1.66 ₹160

61.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 ₹393

$2.52 ₹242

61.90%

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

$8.53 ₹821

$7.55 ₹727

12.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹21.11

$0.22 ₹21.12

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.97 ₹574

$2.87 ₹277

108.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 ₹91.4

$0.56 ₹53.8

69.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 ₹111

$1.99 ₹192

-42.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₹114

$1.23 ₹118

-3.25%

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

$11.7K ₹1.1M

$15.5K ₹1.5M

-24.86%

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

$21.6K ₹2.1M

$22.8K ₹2.2M

-4.96%

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

$37.81 ₹3,641

$41.64 ₹4,009

-9.20%

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

$3.36 ₹323

$4.06 ₹391

-17.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.79 ₹750

$7.18 ₹691

8.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.98 ₹1,731

$15.93 ₹1,534

12.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.72 ₹647

$11.45 ₹1,102

-41.31%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 ₹276

$3.99 ₹384

-28.07%

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

$48.12 ₹4,633

$43.39 ₹4,178

10.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,299 ₹125.1K

$1,558 ₹150.0K

-16.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.93 ₹2,304

$28.22 ₹2,717

-15.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.85 ₹2,393

$30.66 ₹2,952

-18.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.24 ₹4,067

$49.15 ₹4,732

-14.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.05 ₹4,049

$32.01 ₹3,082

31.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 ₹23.4K

$160 ₹15.4K

52.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₹53.6K

$89.5 ₹8,619

521.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 ₹47.7K

$385 ₹37.1K

28.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 ₹26.8K

$188 ₹18.1K

47.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$697 ₹67.1K

$1,161 ₹111.8K

-39.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$307 ₹29.6K

$573 ₹55.2K

-46.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$323 ₹31.1K

$373 ₹35.9K

-13.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.2

9.9

-7.07%

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

Last update for Surat: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Surat and $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Surat vs $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $115 vs $114 per month, with Kolkata (Calcutta) 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

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

Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 116% lower than in Surat. 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 15% 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: $243 in Surat versus $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $913 per month in Surat versus $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta) – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 108% less than in Surat. 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, Surat 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 116% less than in Surat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.