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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Mumbai vs Kolkata in 2026: cost index 142 vs 88, rent ₹35,000 vs ₹12,000, income ₹7,20,000 vs ₹4,50,000, QoL 43 vs 56.
Mumbai vs Kolkata in 2026: cost index 142 vs 88, rent ₹35,000 vs ₹12,000, income ₹7,20,000 vs ₹4,50,000, QoL 43 vs 56.
Mumbai ranks #1 with a cost index of 142 and rent of ₹35,000/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 115 (+22 vs national average of 93).
Average quality of life: 50/100. Top: Mumbai at 43/100.
Safest city: Kolkata (52/100 safety score).
Here's what the headline numbers don't tell you: Mumbai stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 142 and median income of ₹7,20,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. This combination is rare — and valuable.
On quality of life, Kolkata leads with a composite score of 56/100 — reflecting its safety (52), healthcare (72), and walkability (62) metrics. Zooming out, 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. Mumbai leads with 43/100, 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.
Mumbai (ranked #1) has a cost index of 142 and rent of ₹35,000/mo. Kolkata (#2) has index 88 and rent ₹12,000/mo — a 54-point gap.