What Is the Cost of Living in Kolkata?

cost of living kolkata — (source: orfonline)

Kolkata, also known as the ‘City of Joy’, is the capital city of West Bengal. Owing to its rich culture, tradition, culinary and numerous job opportunities, the city attracts thousands of people from all around the country. Furthermore, the cost of living in Kolkata is considerably lower than the other metropolitan cities in India.

Continue reading this article to know more about the average cost of living in Kolkata!

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Kolkata?

For someone looking for an affordable city to work or pursue their studies, Kolkata certainly is the place to be. The capital of West Bengal is one of the most affordable cities in the world to live in. The table below shows the approximate cost of living in Kolkata for students or bachelors, couples and a family of four –

Area of Expense	Bachelors or Students	Couples	Family of Four (2 Adults + 2 Kids)
Accommodation	₹ 4,000 - ₹ 9,000	₹ 12,000 - ₹ 20,000	₹ 12,000 - ₹ 60,000
Groceries	₹ 1,500 - ₹ 3,000	₹ 3,000 - ₹ 9,000	₹ 6,000 - ₹ 24,000
Transport	₹ 1,000 - ₹ 1,500	₹ 1,500 - ₹ 2,500	₹ 1,500 - ₹ 3,000
Utilities	₹ 1,000 - ₹ 3,000	₹ 2,200 - ₹ 3,000	₹ 2,200 - ₹ 3,000
Entertainment	₹ 4,500 - ₹ 7,500	₹ 2,500 - ₹ 5,000	₹ 2,000 - ₹ 5,000
Schooling of kids	NA	NA	₹ 3,000 - ₹ 10,000

What Are the Factors That Determine the Cost of Living in Kolkata?

There are several factors that determine the living expenses in Kolkata. We will talk about these factors in this section.

1. Accommodation

Rental living space in Kolkata is considerably pocket-friendly, unlike other major cities across the country. You can get affordable rental properties in areas such as Gariahat, New Town, Bhawanipur, Garia, Rajarhat, Howrah, Belghoria, Kalighat, Elgin Road and Barrackpore. Additionally, Kolkata offers a lot of paying guest accommodations that help in managing the cost of living in Kolkata for students.

Classification of Accommodation	Approximate Rent per Month
1 BHK	₹ 8,000 - ₹ 20,000
2 BHK	₹ 12,000 - ₹ 30,000
3 BHK	₹ 12,000 - ₹ 60,000
Paying Guest	₹ 4,000 - ₹ 10,000

Best Areas to Live in Kolkata

The table below shows the top posh areas, affordable areas and areas with paying guest facilities in Kolkata –

Posh Areas	Affordable Areas	Areas With PG Accommodation
Alipore	Rajarhat	Karunamoyee
Bhawanipore	Dum Dum	Technopolis
Ballygunge	Garia	Kestopur
Park Street	Ruby connector	Newtown
Salt Lake	Baguiati	Ahalya Nagar

2. Transportation

The City of Joy is well connected with its extensive network of transportation that includes local trains, buses, metro and trams. While evaluating the cost of living in Kolkata, one must consider the money spent to travel around the city. The table below provides the approximate cost of transportation in Kolkata –

Area of Expense	Approximate Cost
One-way ticket (public transport)	₹ 15
Monthly pass (public transport)	₹ 300
Taxi 1 km normal tariff	₹ 22
Price of diesel (as of 18th February)	₹ 89.79 per litre
Price of petrol (as of 18th February)	₹ 104.67 per litre
Rental bikes and scooters	₹ 5 - ₹ 6 per km
Cabs (minimum cost)	₹ 85

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3. Groceries

The amount spent on buying the things of daily needs adds up a significant figure to an individual's monthly budget. The table below shows an approximate price spent on buying some basic grocery items such as mild, rich, eggs, cheese, etc. every month –

Grocery	Price
Regular milk (1 litre)	₹ 49
White bread (1 loaf)	₹ 27
Rice (1 kg)	₹ 50
Regular eggs (1 dozen)	₹ 75
Local cheese (1 kg)	₹ 416
Chicken fillets (1 kg)	₹ 230
Apples (1 kg)	₹ 172
Bananas (1 kg)	₹ 53
Oranges (1 kg)	₹ 99
Tomato (1 kg)	₹ 40
Potato (1 kg)	₹ 21
Onion (1 kg)	₹ 40
Lettuce (1 head)	₹ 32

4. Utilities

Kolkata is one of those Indian cities that have a well-established telephone network. Several national service providers like BSNL and private companies operate telephones and mobile networks.

Utilities	Approximate Cost
Electricity, cooling, heating, water, garbage	₹ 1,500 - ₹ 6,000
Local prepaid mobile tariff (1 min)	₹ 0.75
Unlimited internet package	₹ 450 - ₹ 1,000

5. Entertainment and Leisure

Kolkata is a city with numerous mouth-watering street foods. Furthermore, this city has several restaurants and cafes with a history of its own. For recreational purposes, residents of Kolkata visit museums, theatres, libraries or go to play football.

Area of Expense	Approximate Cost
1 month gym membership	₹ 1,500
1 hour rent for a tennis court	₹ 800
1 seat at a cinema hall	₹ 290
Meal in an affordable restaurant (1 person)	₹ 150
Three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant	₹ 1,200
McMeal at McDonald's	₹ 300

6. Childcare and Schooling

The cost for childcare and schooling is comparatively more reasonable in Kolkata than in other big cities such as Gurgaon and Noida. However, keep in mind that the tuition fees vary due to school curriculum, popularity and convenience for parents and children.

Schools and Childcare	Approximate Cost
Preschool, private, full-day for 1 child	₹ 4,044 per month
International primary school for 1 child	₹ 1,20,000 yearly

Now, you have obtained all the information related to the cost of living in Kolkata. In general, Kolkata is comparatively cheaper than other metropolitans in India. However, these prices depend on a person's lifestyle and standard of living.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ What are some of the best schools in Kolkata?

Some of the most popular and best schools in Kolkata include La Martiniere for Girls, St Xavier’s School, Modern High School for Girls, Loreto House, La Martiniere for Boys, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, The Heritage School.