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Worried about the cost of living while you’re planning to move to a big city? Kolkata is your best choice as the capital of West Bengal is one of the most affordable cities in the world to live in. Based on the cost of buying or renting a home, the cost of switching to and from the workplace, the cost of household utilities, the cost of childcare and more, the cost of living in Kolkata ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. The living cost in Kolkata is equal to that in Bangalore or Delhi, although the standard of living in Kolkata is higher. In general, most of the things needed in Kolkata are affordable.
Accommodation
Unlike other metropolitan cities in India, rental accommodation in Kolkata is still pocket-friendly. As far as residential rentals are concerned, properties in Gariahat, Bhawanipur, New Town, Garia, Howrah, Rajarhat, Belghoria, Barrackpore, Kalighat and Elgin are common picks with a wide range of prices ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3 lakh per month.
The price of the monthly rent in Kolkata depends very much on the district of the city, on the size of the building and on the availability of furniture. The cheapest are one-bedroom apartments outside the city center with prices ranging from Rs.4,000 to Rs.10,000 per month.
| Apartments Rental in Kolkata | Price(Rs) |
| 1 BHK | ₹8,000 – ₹20,000 |
| 2 BHK | ₹12,000 – ₹30,000 |
| 3 BHK | ₹12,000 – ₹60,000 |
| Paying Guest (PG) | ₹4,000 – ₹10,000 |
| Posh Areas in Kolkata | Affordable Areas in Kolkata | Best PG’s in Kolkata |
| Alipore | Rajarhat | Karunamoyee |
| Bhowanipore | Dum Dum | Technopolis |
| Ballygunge | Garia | Kestopur |
| Park Street | Ruby connector | Newtown |
| Salt Lake | Baguihati | Ahalya Nagar |
2.Transportation
Public transport in Kolkata offers end-mile connectivity and a large network of local city buses, Kolkata Metro and tram lines serving the city. The electric train is considered to be one of the cheapest and quickest ways of getting around town. Note, the Indian peculiarity is the lack of doors in the trains and the presence of singers on board who are looking to make money this way. Kolkata ‘s got tram lines, bus routes, rickshaws, and taxis. Travel within the city is available at the same time as monthly passes in local public buses of up to Rs 500 per month.
| Transport | Price (Rs) |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | ₹8 – ₹20 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | ₹170 – ₹600 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | ₹25 – ₹50 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | ₹13 – ₹45 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | ₹50 – ₹100 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | ₹70 – ₹80 |
3.Utilities
Kolkata is one of the Indian cities with a well-established city telephone network. Mobile phones are operated by private companies and the national BSNL service. The prepaid minute of the mobile link is a local tariff of Rs.0.75p. The city is linked to the broadband Internet network. Unlimited data cable or ADSL connection at a minimum speed of 60 Mbps shall be Rs.600 per month. The monthly price of basic services for normal-sized apartments, including electricity , heating, cooling and water, is approximately Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000.
| Utilities (Monthly) | Price (Rs) |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | ₹1,500 – ₹6,000 |
| Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | ₹200 – ₹500 |
| Internet for (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | ₹450 – ₹1,000 |
4.Clothing
Kolkata can not be called an incredibly popular tourist destination, so shops and boutiques are not that diverse and diverse. The city offers a variety of shopping malls and catering facilities to any earner category, as well as specializing in commodities such as Burrabazar and Bagri Market for wholesale, College Street for books, and New Market and Gariahat for just about all. However, there are a few pleasant street markets in every area in the south, west , and north. Modern shopping malls sell cheap leather shoes and clothes, and have famous chain stores.
| Average Clothing Prices | Price (Rs) |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | ₹1,200 – ₹4,000 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc…) | ₹1,200 – ₹4,500 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | ₹2,000 – ₹6,000 |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | ₹1,000 – ₹4,000 |
5.Childcare cost
To determine the cost of childcare in Pune, it will be important to understand what kind of schooling and training you want your child to get. In contrast to Noida and Gurgaon, in Kolkata children’s care cost is reasonable and crowdsourced data,At the preschool or kindergarten level between Rs 2,000-8,0000 each month. When you look at an international standard primary school, that will rise to Rs 50,000 – Rs 2 lakh annually. It should be noted that prices vary depending on school curriculum and popularity and convenience for children and parents.
| Childcare & Schools | Price (Rs) |
| Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | ₹2,000 – ₹8,000 |
| Primary Schools | ₹7,000 – ₹10,000 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | ₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000 |
6.Groceries
The most popular shopping attraction, Kolkata is the old Market, where you can buy almost everything from books and flowers to fresh produce, local cheese, milk products and bakery. Moreover, this and many other markets in the city are open every day, which does not limit your time and gourmet desires. Cheese, red meat, wine, and cigarettes are the most expensive.
| Groceries | Price (Rs) |
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | ₹25 – ₹60 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | ₹15 – ₹50 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | ₹40 – ₹80 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | ₹50 – ₹70 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | ₹200– ₹700 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | ₹150 – ₹300 |
| Apples (1kg) | ₹80 – ₹200 |
| Banana (1kg) | ₹30 – ₹80 |
| Oranges (1kg) | ₹50 – ₹200 |
| Tomato (1kg) | ₹18– ₹60 |
| Potato (1kg) | ₹15– ₹30 |
| Onion (1kg) | ₹20 – ₹60 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | ₹140 – ₹40 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | ₹15 – ₹30 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | ₹250 – ₹1,000 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | ₹80 – ₹200 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | ₹100 – ₹350 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | ₹250 – ₹500 |
7.Restaurants And Food
The city is one of the best food attractions with a mouth-watering culture of street food, as well as a series of must-go restaurants with a history of their own. Kolkata is renowned for providing a full stomach meal with regular diet items at Rs 25 per meal only. The restaurants in Kolkata offer a range of meals due to the fact that Indian cuisine prevails here. You can try all kinds of meat and fish dishes, as well as vegetarian food. Street food and combo food like McDonald’s are really popular and cheap.
| Restaurants | Price (Rs) |
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | ₹100 – ₹400 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | ₹600 – ₹1800 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | ₹200 – ₹400 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | ₹100 – ₹200 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | ₹200 – ₹400 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | ₹50 – ₹250 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | ₹20 – ₹50 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | ₹10 – ₹20 |
8.Sports & leisure
Cricket and football are the two most played sports in Kolkata. This city is also called the best football city of India. Interestingly, the 2nd biggest stadium in the world is located here in Kolkata. As for recreational events, people visit museums, theaters, libraries, and one of the world’s largest book fairs that displays books instead of selling them.
| Sports And Leisure | Price (Rs) |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | ₹500 – ₹2,500 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | ₹300 – ₹1,000 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | ₹200 – ₹450 |
Frequently asked questions about Kolkata.
1. How much does it cost to live in Kolkata per month?
The average cost of living in Kolkata is around 40,000. The average rent in Kolkata for one-bedroom apartments in the center of the city is approximately 12,000 per month and the utilities cost about 3,000 per month. Other costs would be about 15,000, including markets, transport, restaurants, and sports and leisure for one person.
2. Is Kolkata expensive to live?
Kolkata seems not expensive to live in according to the average monthly salary which is ₹60,000
3. What is the average salary in Kolkata?
A person working in Kolkata typically earns around ₹60,000 per month (After tax) and it’s not qualification specific. ₹60,000 is a good salary according to the average cost of living which is ₹40,000.
4. What is the average rent in Kolkata?
The average one-bedroom apartment in Kolkata city centre stands at around ₹12,000 per month. If you’re okay with an apartment outside of the city centre that will cost around ₹7,000
5. Which are some of the best schools in Kolkata?
Some of the best schools in Kolkata for primary education are La Martiniere For Girls, Modern High School for Girls Kolkata, St Xavier’s School Kolkata, Loreto House Kolkata, La Martiniere for Boys, The Heritage School Kolkata, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy Kolkata, The Future Foundation School Kolkata, Don Bosco School Kolkata, Birla High School for Boys Kolkata etc.
Feature image credit: CMS- New Indian Express
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