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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Kolkata vs Surat in 2026: cost index 88 vs 82, rent ₹12,000 vs ₹10,000, income ₹4,50,000 vs ₹4,50,000, QoL 56 vs 59.
Kolkata vs Surat in 2026: cost index 88 vs 82, rent ₹12,000 vs ₹10,000, income ₹4,50,000 vs ₹4,50,000, QoL 56 vs 59.
Kolkata ranks #1 with a cost index of 88 and rent of ₹12,000/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 85 (-8 vs national average of 93).
Average quality of life: 58/100. Top: Kolkata at 56/100.
Safest city: Surat (72/100 safety score).
Let's cut to what actually matters here. Kolkata stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 88 and median income of ₹4,50,000, it offers below-average costs relative to the rest of India. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
On quality of life, Surat leads with a composite score of 59/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (65), and walkability (42) metrics. Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and India is a good example of that tension.
The country average QoL score is 57/100. Kolkata leads with 56/100, reflecting its safety, healthcare access, walkability, and green space.
Our index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Sub-categories cover housing, food, transport, utilities, and healthcare. Data sources include MoSPI CPI, RBI, NHB RESIDEX, PLFS.
Kolkata (ranked #1) has a cost index of 88 and rent of ₹12,000/mo. Surat (#2) has index 82 and rent ₹10,000/mo — a 6-point gap.