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: $827 in Surat versus $417 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $855 in Surat versus $665 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $883 in Surat versus $912 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Living in Surat is roughly 98% more expensive than in Kolkata (Calcutta), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surat 40% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.17 ₹301

$2.04 ₹194

55.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.60 ₹1,006

$13.29 ₹1,262

-20.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 ₹297

$4.13 ₹392

-24.21%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₹170

$1.64 ₹156

9.15%

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

$0.35 ₹33.17

$0.43 ₹41.22

-18.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 ₹12.78

$0.13 ₹12.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 ₹271

$1.92 ₹182

48.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 ₹301

$3.13 ₹297

1.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 ₹66.6

$0.70 ₹66.9

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 ₹44.73

$0.46 ₹43.65

2.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 ₹64.1

$0.72 ₹68.5

-5.56%

Eggs

$0.90 ₹85.6

$1.05 ₹100

-14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 ₹435

$5.47 ₹519

-16.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 ₹260

$2.96 ₹281

-7.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 ₹157

$2.53 ₹240

-34.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 ₹54.2

$0.80 ₹76.2

-28.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 ₹76.6

$1.46 ₹138

-44.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 ₹55.3

$0.68 ₹64.5

-14.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 ₹33.52

$0.30 ₹28.59

16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₹38.89

$0.38 ₹36.37

7.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 ₹44.11

$0.31 ₹29.34

48.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹28.33

$0.26 ₹24.65

15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 ₹465

$5.15 ₹489

-4.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₹721

$10.39 ₹986

-26.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₹174

$1.71 ₹163

7.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 ₹295

$2.68 ₹255

16.04%

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

$6.18 ₹586

$7.04 ₹669

-12.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₹23.87

$0.15 ₹14.59

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.24 ₹498

$2.13 ₹202

146.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 ₹49.27

$0.57 ₹54.0

-8.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₹20.91

$0.31 ₹29.24

-29.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 ₹98.6

$1.79 ₹170

-41.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ₹102

$1.08 ₹103

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

$11.9K ₹1.1M

$14.3K ₹1.4M

-16.32%

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

$18.9K ₹1.8M

$21.3K ₹2.0M

-10.85%

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

$36.74 ₹3,488

$55.1 ₹5,230

-33.31%

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

$3.60 ₹342

$5.06 ₹481

-28.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.45 ₹707

$7.06 ₹671

5.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.40 ₹1,747

$14.23 ₹1,351

29.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.32 ₹505

$10.69 ₹1,015

-50.23%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 ₹266

$3.75 ₹356

-25.07%

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

$33.43 ₹3,174

$45.21 ₹4,292

-26.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$884 ₹83.9K

$1,963 ₹186.4K

-54.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.90 ₹2,174

$24.97 ₹2,371

-8.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.27 ₹2,304

$22.58 ₹2,144

7.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.34 ₹3,925

$31.25 ₹2,967

32.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.94 ₹3,127

$26.49 ₹2,515

24.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 ₹21.3K

$162 ₹15.4K

38.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ₹48.5K

$95.1 ₹9,024

437.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₹35.9K

$411 ₹39.0K

-8.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ₹19.1K

$210 ₹20.0K

-4.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$668 ₹63.5K

$1,242 ₹117.9K

-46.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$308 ₹29.3K

$617 ₹58.6K

-50.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$315 ₹29.9K

$381 ₹36.2K

-17.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.17

9.27

-1.08%

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

Last update for Surat: August 29, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $224 in Surat and $162 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 21% 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 Surat vs $13.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $117 per month, with Surat 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 98% 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 21% 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: $224 in Surat 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 $827 per month in Surat versus $417 in Kolkata (Calcutta) – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 146% 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 98% less than in Surat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.