It is natural to worry about the cost of living when planning to move to a new city. While maintaining a certain standard of living at your desired place, you need to consider the financial aspect required to cover basic expenses like food, taxes, healthcare, and housing. You need to make conscious financial decisions before moving into a new city alone or with your family.
Let’s look into the cost of living in Kolkatan the City of Joy.
Cost of Living in Kolkata
Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is among the most affordable metropolitan cities in the entire globe. The cost of living in a place includes renting or buying a home, expenses surrounding household utilities, childcare and healthcare costs, expenses involving switching back and forth from your workplace, and so on. The cost of living in Kolkata per month ranges between Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 50,000. Even though the living expenses in Kolkata may seem similar to that in Delhi or Bangalore, the living standard is comparatively higher. It is because the monetary requirements of living in Kolkata are reasonable.
Accommodation Expenses in Kolkata
Compared to other Indian metropolitan cities, Kolkata’s flat price is cost-effective to this date. Considering some of the most sought areas for accommodations (such as Howrah, Rajarhat, Barrackpore, New Town, Bhawanipur, Garia, Gariahat, Belghoria, Elgin, and Kalighat), property rates in Kolkata per month ranges widely starting from Rs. 2,500 up to Rs. 3 Lakhs.
| Rental Apartment Type | Flat Rate In Kolkata |
| 1 BHK | Rs. 8,000 – Rs. 20,000 |
| 2 BHK | Rs. 12,000 – Rs. 30,000 |
| 3 BHK | Rs. 12,000 – Rs. 60,000 |
| Paying Guest (PG) | Rs. 4,000 – Rs. 10,000 |
The flat rate in Kolkata depends on the property’s size, furniture availability, and the district where the building is located. Generally, apartments with a single bedroom situated right on the outskirts of the city centre range from Rs. 4,000 – Rs. 10,000 monthly.
Rental Area
| Rental Area | Flat Rate In Kolkata |
| Single Bedroom Apartment (in the City Centre) | Rs. 10,382.35 |
| Single Bedroom Apartment (Outskirts) | Rs. 5,588.24 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment (in the City Centre) | Rs. 27,333.33 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment (Outskirts) | Rs. 18,941.18 |
Cost Of Building A House In Kolkata
The cost of building a house in Kolkata depends mainly on your chosen area. If you are looking to buy a property in Kolkata, then these are some of the most sought-after districts:
| Kolkata | ||
| Posh Areas | Affordable Areas | Ideal PGs |
| Salt Lake | Ruby connector | Technopolis |
| Park Street | Baguihati | Karunamoyee |
| Ballygunge | Rajarhat | Ahalya Nagar |
| Bhowanipore | Dum Dum | Newtown |
| Alipore | Garia | Kestopur |
Owning properties in Kolkata is cheaper compared to other metropolitan cities as the property rates in Kolkata start as low as Rs. 50,000 per metre.
| Buying Property Area | Property Rates in Kolkata |
| Kolkata Flat Price or Cost per Square Metre (in the City Centre) | Rs. 84,029.16 |
| Kolkata Flat Price or Cost per Square Metre (Outskirts) | Rs. 46,530.75 |
Food Expenses in Kolkata
Kolkata is renowned for its mouth-watering street-food culture and delicacies. You will easily find meals for filling your stomach with regular items only at Rs. 25. The wide range of meals available at restaurants in Kolkata is owed to the prevailing rich Indian cuisine. You can opt for vegetarian meals or meals with different fish and meats. Both the McDonald’s combo food and street foods are cheap yet popular.
| Restaurants | Costs |
| Meal (at Inexpensive Restaurant) | Rs. 100 – Rs. 400 |
| Three-course Meal (Mid-range Restaurant for Two People) | Rs. 600 – Rs. 1,800 |
| McDonald’s McMeal (or Any Equivalent Combo Meals) | Rs. 200 – Rs. 400 |
| Domestic Beer (Draught Bottle of 0.5 Litre) | Rs. 100 – Rs. 200 |
| Imported Beer (Bottle of 0.33 Litre) | Rs. 200 – Rs. 400 |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | Rs. 50 – Rs. 250 |
| Coke/Pepsi (Bottle of 0.33 Litre) | Rs. 20 – Rs. 50 |
| Water (Bottle of 0.33 Litre) | Rs. 10 – Rs. 20 |
Transportation Costs in Kolkata
In Kolkata, you will be able to enjoy public transport that provides you with a large network of connectivity and end-mile services. One of the quickest and cheapest ways to get around the entire state is travelling via the electric train. Kolkata allows you to travel around via taxis, bus routes, rickshaws, tram, and metro lines. You can avail of the monthly passes of up to Rs. 500 to travel within the city. They are offered by the local bus and rail routes.
| Transportation | Cost |
| One-way Ticket for Local Transport | Rs. 8 – Rs. 20 |
| Monthly Passes (Regular Price) | Rs. 170 – Rs. 600 |
| Taxi (Normal Tariff) | Rs. 25 – Rs. 50 |
| Taxi per km (Normal Tariff) | Rs. 13 – Rs. 45 |
| Taxi Waiting for an Hour (Normal Tariff) | Rs. 50 – Rs. 100 |
| 1 Litre of Gasoline | Rs. 70 – Rs. 80 |
Household Utility Expenses in Kolkata
With a long-standing telephone network, Kolkata offers mobiles the operations of the nationwide BSNL and private services. A local tariff on a prepaid mobile link for a minute is Rs. 0.75. You can easily avail of the unlimited ADSL connection or data cable at Rs. 600 every month on a minimum speed of 60 Mbps. The essential services for a regular-sized apartment include heating, cooling, electricity, and water is Rs. 2,000.
| Monthly Utilities | Costs |
| Basic (Electricity, Garbage, Water, Heating, Cooling) | Rs. 1,500 – Rs. 6,000 |
| Prepaid Local Mobile Tariff | Rs. 200 – Rs. 500 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, ADSL/Cable) | Rs. 450 – Rs. 1,000 |
Groceries and Fruits Expenses in Kolkata
One of the most popular shopping attractions in Kolkata is its old markets where you can buy anything, starting from groceries, fruits, and flowers and ending at books, milk products, and bakeries. These old markets are spread all over Kolkata and are open every day, which helps in satisfying your shopping urge. Strictly speaking, cheese, alcohol, wine, and cigarettes are the most expensive grocery items in Kolkata.
| Groceries and Fruits | Price |
| Milk (Regular Size per Litre) | Rs. 25 – Rs. 60 |
| Fresh White Bread Loaf (500g) | Rs. 15 – Rs. 50 |
| White Rice (per Kg) | Rs. 40 – Rs. 80 |
| Eggs (Dozen Regular Size) | Rs. 50 – Rs. 70 |
| Local Cheese (per Kg) | Rs. 200 – Rs. 700 |
| Chicken Fillets (per Kg) | Rs. 150 – Rs. 300 |
| Apples (per Kg) | Rs. 80 – Rs. 200 |
| Banana (per Kg) | Rs. 30 – Rs. 80 |
| Oranges (per Kg) | Rs. 50 – Rs. 200 |
| Tomato (per Kg) | Rs. 18 – Rs. 60 |
| Potato (per Kg) | Rs. 15 – Rs. 30 |
| Onion (per Kg) | Rs. 20 – Rs. 60 |
| Lettuce per head | Rs. 140 – Rs. 40 |
| Water (Bottle of 1.5 Litre) | Rs. 15 – Rs. 30 |
| Wine Bottle (Mid-Range) | Rs. 250 – Rs. 1,000 |
| Domestic Beer (Bottle of 0.5 Litre) | Rs. 80 – Rs. 200 |
| Imported Beer (Bottle of 0.33 Litre) | Rs. 100 – Rs. 350 |
| Cigarettes of 20 Packs (Marlboro) | Rs. 250 – Rs. 500 |
Childcare Costs in Kolkata
For those planning to move to a new city with their family, there is always the stress of accommodating your livelihood according to your child. To determine the childcare expenses in Kolkata, you first need to determine the kind of school/institution you want your child to be admitted to.
Compared with other cities like Gurgaon or Noida, the childcare cost in Kolkata is quite reasonable. The monthly childcare costs only around Rs at the nursery or kindergarten level. 2000 – Rs. 8000. Whereas, when you look at a standard international primary school, the childcare cost will rise to Rs. 50,000 – Rs. 2 Lakhs annually. Depending on the school’s popularity and curriculum, you will find different fee structures, that need to be considered.
| Schools | Expense |
| Preschool/Kindergarten (Private, Full Day, Monthly per Child) | Rs. 2,000 – Rs. 8,000 |
| Primary Schools | Rs. 7,000 – Rs. 10,000 |
| International Primary Schools (Annually per Child) | Rs. 50,000 – Rs. 2,00,000 |
Entertainment Expenses in Kolkata
You will find many standard movie theatres, pubs, and restaurants where you can enjoy your free time and unwind with your loved ones. There are also many amusement parks and water parks in Kolkata where you can go and enjoy some downtime with your friends and family.
| Entertainment Type | Price |
| Basic dinner (local pub, for two) | Rs. 1,002 |
| Movie Theatre (2 Tickets) | Rs. 428 |
| Movie Theatre (Best Seats, 2 Tickets) | Rs. 1,876 |
| Dinner (Italian Restaurant, for 2) (Including Appetisers, Main Course, Wine, and Dessert) | Rs. 1,609 |
| Cocktail Drink (Single Drink, Downtown Club) | Rs. 479 |
| Cappuccino (in an Expat Area) | Rs. 220 |
| Beer (in Local Pub, 500ml) | Rs. 251 |
| iPad with Wi-Fi (128 GB) | Rs. 52,318 |
| Prepaid Mobile Tariff (1 Minute, No Plans or Discounts) | Rs. 2.15 |
| Gym Membership (in Business District, 1 Month) | Rs. 1,495 |
| Cigarette Single Pack (Marlboro) | Rs. 193 |
Gym Expenses in Kolkata
If you are very cautious of your diet, body, and health, you will find many trainers and gyms in different localities helping you achieve your goal. The local gyms are quite affordable and cost around Rs. 4,500 for three months (which brings monthly gym expenses of about Rs. 1,500). Do remember that the gym fees may rise and fall depending on the quality of the gym, its location, and the equipment available.
Sports and Leisure Expenses in Kolkata
Kolkata is also known as the ‘Footballing Capital’ of India, owing to its rich history in football since the early times. Kolkata is a city where different kinds of sports are cherished. Cricket and football are the two most-played games in Kolkata. India’s biggest cricket and football stadiums are situated in Kolkata. And if we talk about leisure, people here also like to visit museums, libraries, fairs, and theatres.
| Sports Activity | Costs |
| Fitness Club (1 Adult, Monthly Fee) | Rs. 500 – Rs. 2,500 |
| Tennis Court (Weekend Renting for 1 Hour) | Rs. 300 – Rs. 1,000 |
| Cinema (1 Ticket, International Release) | Rs. 200 – Rs. 450 |
Miscellaneous Cost of Living in Kolkata
As an earned status of a metropolitan city, Kolkata ensures a wide range of shopping malls and avenues to cater to a diverse group of tastes. Even districts specialise in commodities like Bagri Market and Burrabazar for wholesale, College Street for books, and Gariahat and New Market for almost anything. You will also find posh areas hosting malls with just about every global brand that has entered the Indian market.
| Clothing | Price |
| Pair of Jeans (Comparable or Levis 501) | Rs. 1,200 – Rs. 4,000 |
| A Summer Dress at a Chain Store (Forever21, Zara, etc.) | Rs. 1,200 – Rs. 4,500 |
| Pair of Adidas (Mid-Range) Walking Shoes | Rs. 2,000 – Rs. 6,000 |
| Pair of Men’s Business Leather Shoes | Rs. 1,000 – Rs. 4,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much is the average salary earned in Kolkata?
Typically, you can earn around Rs. 60,000 (with deduction of taxes) per month. This wage is not qualification-specific and is good enough compared to the cost of living in Kolkata, estimated at Rs. 40,000.
How much is the average rent in Kolkata?
A single-bedroom apartment in the city center costs about Rs. 12,000 monthly. Whereas a single bedroom on the outskirts of the city center will cost only about Rs. 7,000 every month.
Is the city of Kolkata an expensive place to live?
For someone who earns Rs. 60,000 per month, Kolkata would be an affordable place to stay.
Which are a few of the best schools to enrol your child in Kolkata?
To name a few of the best schools/institutions in Kolkata for primary level education are Loreto House Kolkata, St Xavier’s School Kolkata, The Heritage School Kolkata, Don Bosco School Kolkata, La Martiniere For Girls, The Future Foundation School Kolkata, Modern High School for Girls Kolkata, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy Kolkata, Birla High School for Boys Kolkata, and La Martiniere for Boys.
What is the estimated cost of living in Kolkata?
On an average estimate, the cost of living in Kolkata is Rs. 40,000 per month. Renting a 1 BHK apartment in the Kolkata city centre would be around Rs. 12,000, where the utilities would cost about Rs. 3,000 every month. Other expenses such as transport, restaurants, leisure, and market would account for around Rs. 15,000.
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