Chennai vs Kolkata
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Chennai leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Kolkata where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Kolkata's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Chennai | Kolkata |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 51 | 54 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 41 | 41 |
| Climate | 57 | 68 |
| Safety | 57 | 56 |
| Summer °C | 32.6 | 30.4 |
| Winter °C | 24.4 | 19.4 |
| Top disaster risk | storms (hurricane/cyclone) | storms (hurricane/cyclone) |
Chennai vs Kolkata: the short answer
Kolkata comes out ahead on overall livability (54/100), modestly above Chennai (51/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Kolkata is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Chennai 41 vs Kolkata 41, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Chennai runs warmer in summer (about 32.6°C peak vs 30.4°C in Kolkata), while winter lows sit near 24.4°C in Chennai and 19.4°C in Kolkata. On natural-disaster exposure Chennai is the safer choice (safety 57/100); the dominant modelled hazard is storms (hurricane/cyclone) for Chennai and storms (hurricane/cyclone) for Kolkata.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Kolkata — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Chennai — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Chennai — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Kolkata — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Chennai or Kolkata better to live in?
Kolkata scores higher overall — 54 vs 51 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Chennai or Kolkata?
Kolkata has the lower cost of living (cost index 41 vs 41; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Chennai or Kolkata?
Chennai — summer highs reach about 32.6°C versus 30.4°C in Kolkata.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Chennai or Kolkata?
Chennai (disaster-safety 57/100). Main hazard: storms (hurricane/cyclone) in Chennai, storms (hurricane/cyclone) in Kolkata.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Chennai?
storms (hurricane/cyclone) is the dominant modelled hazard for Chennai on our risk index.
How is the Chennai vs Kolkata comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.