Summary of this article
Kolkata sales rise amid national decline
Affordability anchors steady housing demand
Balanced growth across affordable and mid segments
Kolkata’s real estate market has been resilient in the first quarter of 2026 on a year-on-year basis. This is despite the decrease seen in Q1 growth in the top Indian real estate markets. This can be attributed to the sustained demand that the city experiences, especially in the mid-to-premium housing segments.
A report by Knight Frank suggests that the city has recorded a 5 per cent yearly increase in housing sales, positioning it among the stronger markets in India for this quarter. However, the same can’t be said about the quarter-on-quarter growth rate. Even as the growth rate declines across the major cities in India, Kolkata has managed to channel the underlying strength from the affordability-driven market.
Steady Sales Amid National Slowdown
Kolkata had recorded a total sales of 4,043 residential units in Q1 2026. This reflected a 5 per cent year-on-year increase. This also contrasts with the overall decline across the top eight cities, which saw a decrease of 4 per cent.
This performance is well-aligned with the broader market data, when compared with cities like the National Capital Region (NCR) and Pune, Kolkata performed quite well.
The quarter-on-quarter data reveal that Kolkata saw a moderation, which indicates some cooling after a strong growth surge in 2025.
Demand Anchored by Affordability
One can credit this resilient growth to the affordability of the city. Kolkata is constantly ranked among the most affordable housing markets in the country. With lower price points that attract the buyers rather than just speculative investment. Homes that were below the Rs 50 lakh price point had accounted for 37 per cent of the total sales. While the segment offering housing from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore, witnessed sales of 660 units, which amounts to 50 per cent year-on-year growth and contributed 3 per cent to the total sales in India.
These numbers show a balanced demand across the affordable and mid-income segments. Homebuyers lean more towards this housing category as it provides stability, security and stays unaffected from the market volatility that is seen in cities that are driven by the growth of premium segments.
Even though the premium segment trailed behind the affordable segment, it witnessed a notable growth. A total of 341 housing unit sales of homes ranging from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore were seen in the first quarter. This is indicative of the premium housing still being relevant in the city.
This data indicates the undisturbed confidence in the market’s long-term performance. Across the country, the comparison between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026 reveals a different residential market in transition.
