Kolkata vs Surat Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Kolkata vs Surat: everyday costs favor Surat (~8% CPI gap), housing index favors Surat, wage stretch favors Surat. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Surat
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (18% gap, Surat ahead); Utilities (18% gap, Surat ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $38 lower in Surat than in Kolkata (~18% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $38 (favoring Surat).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Surat | CPI 14 vs 15.3 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Surat | Rent index 4.5 vs 5.5 (lower is better) |
| Food | Surat | Groceries index 17 vs 19 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Surat | One-way ticket 27.85 vs 29.06 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Surat | Utilities (85m²) 751.5 vs 918.5 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Surat | Internet 905.98 vs 993.65 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Surat | Restaurant index 12.5 vs 14 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Surat | Avg net salary 331328 vs 300266 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Surat | PP index 64 vs 58 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Surat leads with a 18% gap.
Rent index 4.5 vs 5.5 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Surat — Lower housing / rent index (18% gap).
- Families: Surat — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Surat; purchasing power favors Surat.
- Remote Workers: Surat — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Surat (~8% gap).
- Budget Living: Surat — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Surat is the overall cost winner on CPI (~8% lower everyday-cost index than Kolkata).
- Housing: Surat leads on rent index (18% gap).
- Food / groceries: Surat is lower (11% gap).
- Purchasing power: Surat scores higher (10% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$38 cheaper in Surat.
Analysis
Kolkata versus Surat is not a single number. With a 8% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Surat, while housing follows Surat's rent index. Purchasing power (58 vs 64) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-11
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Real
On-page labels for this view: Real · Real.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.