🇮🇳Cost of Living in Kolkata

India · Population: 14,900,000 · Cost Index: 22/100

Cost of Living in Kolkata

India · Asia

Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, is the cultural capital of India and the principal city of eastern India on the Hooghly River. It is renowned for its literary heritage, artistic traditions, and some of the lowest living costs among major Indian cities.

14,900,000

Population

Cost Index

Safety Index

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $550 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Kolkata

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person

$550

per month

Couple

$830

per month

Family of 4

$1,160

per month

Student

$410

per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Kolkata, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $272.50

1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$220.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$120.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$480.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$270.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $2.26

Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)

$1.80

Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)

$10.00

McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)

$3.80

Milk (1 liter)(per liter)

$0.60

Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)

$0.35

Rice (1 kg)(per kg)

$0.50

Eggs (12)(per dozen)

$1.00

Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)

$2.50

Apples (1 kg)(per kg)

$1.60

Banana (1 kg)(per kg)

$0.45

Transportation

Avg: $3.42

Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)

$15.00

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)

$0.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)

$0.40

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)

$0.30

Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.25

Utilities

Avg: $16.83

Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)

$38.00

Mobile Phone Plan(per month)

$3.50

Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)

$9.00

Healthcare

Avg: $6.17

Doctor Visit(per visit)

$7.00

Dentist Visit(per visit)

$8.00

Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)

$3.50

Entertainment

Avg: $5.33

Fitness Club Monthly(per month)

$15.00

Cinema Ticket(per ticket)

$2.20

Cappuccino(per cup)

$1.60

Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)

$2.50

Clothing

Avg: $31.67

Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)

$28.00

Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)

$15.00

Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)

$52.00

Popular Kolkata comparisons

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Frequently asked questions about Kolkata

Is Kolkata expensive to live in?

Kolkata has a cost of living index of 22 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it one of the more affordable cities we track.

How much money do you need to live in Kolkata?

A single person needs an estimated $550 per month to live in Kolkata, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.

What is the cost of living index in Kolkata?

Kolkata's cost of living index is 22 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.

What is quality of life like in Kolkata?

Kolkata scores 45 out of 100 for quality of life and 52 out of 100 for safety in our index.