What Is The Cost of Living in Kolkata?
What is the cost of living in Kolkata for couple, family, bachelors? On the basis of the cost of buying or renting a home, cost involved in commuting to and fro workplace, cost of household utilities, childcare costs and more, cost of living in Kolkata ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. MakaanIQ compiles detailed list of prices in Kolkata for food, housing, transportation, hangouts, living rental cost in residential areas of Kolkata and calculates actual cost of living in the city.
Kolkata is among the most affordable Indian cities. Although the city has not participated in any of the liveability surveys and even the Smart City plan for Kolkata doesn’t seem to take off quite well, the city continues to pull the buying crowd mainly because of the affordability quotient.
Cost of Living in Kolkata City
| Expense Item | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 2BHK on rent | ₹ 12,000 |
| Cost of 2BHK | ₹ 34.30 lacs |
| Local travel ( monthly pass for train) | ₹ 500 |
| Electricity, Water, Garbage for apartment | ₹ 2931.71 |
| Cost of pre-school/ kindergarten | ₹ 3,000 |
| Maid (cook, clean) | ₹ 5,000 |
| Petrol | ₹ 72.26 |
| Cost of 1 meal in inexpensive restaurant (per person) | ₹ 250 |
| Lifestyle | ₹ 10,000 |
| Miscellaneous (water tankers, repair costs per month) | ₹ 3,000 onwards |
| Groceries | ₹ 6,000 |
Rent an apartment in Kolkata
Unlike the other cosmopolitan cities in India, rental accommodations in Kolkata are still pocket-friendly. In terms of residential rental supply, properties in Gariahat, Bhawanipur, New Town, Garia, Howrah, Rajarhat, Belghoria, Barrackpore, Kalighat and Elgin are popular picks with the broad price range between Rs 2,500 to as much as Rs 3 lakh per month. On an average, for a regular 2BHK unit, you will need to reserve a budget of Rs 3,000 to Rs 1 lakh. However, most regular 2BHK properties are within Rs 25,000 per month .
Buy an apartment in Kolkata
Most locals prefer investing in Kolkata and the price range may run into crores. However, Kolkata continues to offer a variety of housing options in all the budget segments. New Town, Rajarhat, Tollygunge, Belighata, Salt Lake City, Madhyamgram are the most popular picks. As of October 2018, basic selling price stands at Rs 3,870 per sq ft. On the whole, prices have been fairly stable with average prices at Rs 4,010 per sq ft in 2013. There are over 2,200 projects for sale in Kolkata which are in ready-to-move stage.
Local travel in Kolkata
Public transport in Kolkata ensures end-mile connectivity and an extensive network of local buses, Kolkata Metro and tram serving the city. Travel within the city is affordable at the same time with monthly passes in local buses ranging up to Rs 500 per month. Prices do vary depending upon the mode of transport you use and how much you travel everyday.
Household utility cost
Numbeo estimates electricity, water and garbage handling charges for residential properties to be anywhere between Rs 1,500-5,000 per month.
Childcare cost in Kolkata
Unlike Noida and Gurgaon, childcare cost in Kolkata is reasonable and crowdsourced data as per Numbeo estimates it to be anywhere between Rs 1,500-5,000 per month per child at a preschool or kindergarten level. This cost will escalate to Rs 50,000- Rs 1.5 lakh per year if you are looking at an international standard primary school. Note that prices vary subject to the curriculum and popularity of the school and convenience offered for children and parents.