Kota landmark

Cost of Living in Kota

Rajasthan • Population: 12 L

India's coaching capital. 2 lakh+ students migrate here annually for IIT/medical exam prep.

Cost Index
19
Mumbai = 100
Veg Thali
₹70
1BHK (Centre)
₹8,000
PG Double Sharing
₹5,000
Petrol
₹100/L
🍽️

Restaurants & Dining

Average prices at local restaurants, street food stalls, and cafes

ItemKota
Veg Thali (local restaurant)
per plate
₹70
Non-Veg Thali (local restaurant)
per plate
₹130
Meal for Two (high-end restaurant)
per meal
₹800
Chai (regular cup)
per cup
₹10
Coffee (Cappuccino)
per cup
₹120
Specialty Coffee (Third Wave)
per cup
₹253
Street Food (Vada Pav / Samosa)
per piece
₹10
Biryani (chicken)
per plate
₹150
Dosa (plain)
per plate
₹50
Fast Food Combo (McDonald's)
per meal
₹220
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola, 300ml)
per bottle
₹35
Bottled Water (1 litre)
per bottle
₹20
🛒

Groceries

Prices at local markets and grocery stores, including health supplements

ItemKota
Rice (Basmati)
1 kg
₹82
Wheat Flour (Atta)
1 kg
₹40
Toor Dal
1 kg
₹138
Milk (Full Cream)
1 litre
₹52
Eggs
12 pcs
₹70
Chicken
1 kg
₹210
Paneer
1 kg
₹330
Onions
1 kg
₹25
Tomatoes
1 kg
₹30
Potatoes
1 kg
₹22
Cooking Oil (Sunflower)
1 litre
₹140
Sugar
1 kg
₹40
Apples (Shimla)
1 kg
₹175
Bananas
1 dozen
₹38
Bread (White, Sliced)
1 loaf
₹36
Whey Protein (1 kg)
per kg
₹3,000
🚗

Transportation

Public transport, ride-hailing, and fuel costs

ItemKota
Auto Rickshaw (minimum fare)
per ride
₹15
Auto Rickshaw (per km after min)
per km
₹8
Metro / Local Train (monthly pass)
per month
₹500
Bus (monthly pass)
per month
₹350
Ola/Uber (avg ride)
per ride
₹120
Petrol
1 litre
₹100
Diesel
1 litre
₹90
Two Wheeler EMI (avg)
per month
₹3,500
Car EMI (avg)
per month
₹15,000
💡

Utilities (Monthly)

Monthly bills for electricity, water, internet, and mobile

ItemKota
Electricity
per month
₹1,200
Water Bill
per month
₹150
Cooking Gas (LPG Cylinder)
per cylinder
₹803
Broadband Internet
per month
₹500
Mobile Plan (Jio/Airtel)
per month
₹299
🏠

Accommodation - Rent (Monthly)

Monthly rent for apartments in different areas

ItemKota
1 BHK in City Centre
per month
₹8,000
1 BHK Outside City Centre
per month
₹4,500
2 BHK in City Centre
per month
₹13,000
2 BHK Outside City Centre
per month
₹7,500
3 BHK in City Centre
per month
₹20,000
3 BHK Outside City Centre
per month
₹12,000
Home Loan EMI (2BHK avg)
per month
₹26,000
🏘️

PG / Shared Accommodation (Monthly)

Paying Guest accommodations popular with students and young professionals

ItemKota
PG - Private Room (with meals)
per month
₹7,000
PG - Private Room (without meals)
per month
₹5,000
PG - Double Sharing (with meals)
per month
₹5,000
PG - Double Sharing (without meals)
per month
₹3,500
PG - Triple Sharing (with meals)
per month
₹4,000
PG - Triple Sharing (without meals)
per month
₹2,500
🧹

Household Help & Misc

Cook, maid, and other monthly household expenses

ItemKota
Cook (part-time, 2 meals/day)
per month
₹6,133
Maid / Cleaning Help
per month
₹2,300
Laundry / Ironing (dhobi)
per month
₹1,173
Miscellaneous Monthly Spend
per month
₹2,300
🛍️

Shopping & Online

Clothing, personal care, and online shopping averages

ItemKota
Men's Casual Shirt (Zara/H&M)
per piece
₹2,500
Women's Dress (Myntra/Zara)
per piece
₹2,000
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)
per pair
₹5,500
Skincare Basics (Nykaa avg)
per month
₹1,200
Amazon Prime Membership
per month
₹149
🎬

Lifestyle & Entertainment

Gym, movies, streaming, and personal care

ItemKota
Gym Membership
per month
₹600
Movie Ticket (Multiplex)
per ticket
₹150
Netflix (Standard Plan)
per month
₹649
Spotify Premium
per month
₹119
Haircut (Men, basic salon)
per cut
₹60
Domestic Beer (pint, restaurant)
per pint
₹150
Imported Beer (bottle, restaurant)
per bottle
₹320

Last updated: February 2026

Based on data from 32 contributors

Prices are averages and may vary by locality

Monthly Budget Guide for Kota

Estimated all-in monthly costs based on current Kota prices — accommodation, food, transport, and utilities.

Student / Frugal
₹5,400/mo
  • • PG triple sharing (meals incl.)
  • • Bus pass for commute
  • • Basic personal expenses
Working Professional
₹13,500/mo
  • • PG double sharing or 1BHK outside centre
  • • Meals at local restaurants
  • • Metro / transport + utilities
Comfortable
₹21,500/mo
  • • 1BHK in city centre
  • • Dining out + groceries
  • • Transport + utilities + leisure

* Estimates are indicative. Actual costs depend on lifestyle, exact location, and current market rates. Use the calculator to customise for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions — Cost of Living in Kota

How much does it cost to live in Kota per month?

A single person living frugally in Kota (PG triple sharing) can manage on around ₹5,400/month. A comfortable independent lifestyle with a 1BHK apartment typically costs ₹21,500/month, depending on lifestyle choices.

What is the average rent for a 1BHK apartment in Kota?

A 1BHK apartment in Kota's city centre costs around ₹8,000/month. Outside the city centre, rent drops to approximately ₹4,500. Prices vary significantly by neighbourhood and the age of the building.

Is Kota affordable for students?

Yes — Kota has good PG accommodation options for students. A PG with triple sharing and meals starts from around ₹4,000/month, making it accessible for students on a budget. The city is considered very affordable overall, with a Cost Index of 19 compared to Mumbai's base of 100.

How does Kota compare to Mumbai for cost of living?

Kota is 81% cheaper than Mumbai on average. Its Cost Index is 19 compared to Mumbai's 100. This means your rupee goes significantly further in Kota than in India's most expensive city.

What are the cheapest accommodation options in Kota?

The most affordable option in Kota is a PG with triple sharing and meals at around ₹4,000/month. Double sharing PG accommodation costs approximately ₹5,000. For independent living, a 1BHK outside the city centre is typically the next step up.

Thinking of relocating to or from Kota?

Use our tools to compare Kota with other cities, calculate your salary needs, or build a personalised monthly budget.