City in West Bengal, India
Cost of living in Kolkata
How much a month costs in Kolkata
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $519–934 (₹50,000–90,000).
Prices in Kolkata
Typical 2026 ranges in INR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | INR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | ₹18,000–45,000 | $187–467 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | ₹10,000–25,000 | $104–259 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ₹400–1,000 | $4.2–10.4 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ₹2,500–6,000 | $26–62 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ₹60–180 | $0.6–1.9 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ₹400–1,100 | $4.2–11.4 |
| Cappuccino | ₹100–250 | $1.0–2.6 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ₹200–450 | $2.1–4.7 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ₹5–25 | $0.05–0.26 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ₹80–200 | $0.8–2.1 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | ₹400–800 | $4.2–8.3 |
| Gym membership (month) | ₹1,200–3,500 | $12–36 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ₹300–500 | $3.1–5.2 |
Value for money: 91/100
A value score of 91/100 means Kolkata gives more quality of life per dollar than 90% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 49/100. It's the 36th most affordable of 47 places we cover in India.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across India
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | $291–467 | 100/100 |
| Pushkar | $311–498 | 99/100 |
| Jaisalmer | $311–519 | 99/100 |
| Darjeeling | $332–519 | 100/100 |
| Munnar | $332–519 | 99/100 |
| Alleppey | $342–540 | 98/100 |
| Amritsar | $363–571 | 98/100 |
| Jodhpur | $363–571 | 97/100 |
| Varkala | $394–623 | 96/100 |
| Varanasi | $394–674 | 92/100 |
| Dharamshala | $394–674 | 99/100 |
| Leh | $415–674 | 96/100 |
| Pondicherry | $415–674 | 99/100 |
| Rishikesh | $415–726 | 95/100 |
| Manali | $415–726 | 96/100 |
| Shimla | $467–726 | 97/100 |
| Agra | $467–830 | 79/100 |
| Palolem | $519–830 | 92/100 |
| Udaipur | $498–882 | 84/100 |
| Kolkata | $519–934 | 91/100 |
| Chennai | $571–934 | 91/100 |
| Anjuna | $571–934 | 81/100 |
| Jaipur | $571–986 | 74/100 |
| Kochi | $571–986 | 90/100 |
| Andaman Islands | $623–1,040 | 80/100 |
| Hyderabad | $674–1,140 | 82/100 |
| Goa | $726–1,250 | 76/100 |
| Delhi | $778–1,350 | 52/100 |
| Bangalore | $778–1,350 | 71/100 |
| Mumbai | $934–1,660 | 35/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Kolkata
Similar safety, lower cost, in South Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | India | $291–467 |
| Darjeeling | India | $332–519 |
| Mysore | India | $363–571 |
| Dharamshala | India | $394–674 |
| Pondicherry | India | $415–674 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Kolkata?
About $228–332 on a lean budget, $519–934 for a comfortable month and $1,250–2,590 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Kolkata?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ₹18,000–45,000 ($187–467) a month in the center and ₹10,000–25,000 ($104–259) outside it.
How much does food cost in Kolkata?
A local meal is ₹60–180 ($0.6–1.9); a mid-range restaurant is ₹400–1,100 ($4.2–11.4) per person.
Is India expensive?
Prices in India are about 23% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Kolkata
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Kolkata Metro Railway
- West Bengal Tourism
- Kolkata Airport (Airports Authority of India)
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.