Delhi vs Agra Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Agra leads on CPI (10.3 vs 18.7, NYC=100), Agra leads on rent index, and Delhi leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Agra
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (72% gap, Agra ahead); Utilities (72% gap, Agra ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $269 lower in Agra than in Delhi (~71% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $269 (favoring Agra).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Agra | CPI 10.3 vs 18.7 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Agra | Rent index 2.4 vs 8.5 (lower is better) |
| Food | Agra | Groceries index 14.4 vs 23 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Agra | One-way ticket 15.2 vs 30 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Agra | Utilities (85m²) 847.06 vs 3000 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Agra | Internet 469 vs 700 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Agra | Restaurant index 8 vs 17 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Delhi | Avg net salary 52000 vs 25393.33 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Delhi | PP index 60 vs 29.3 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Agra leads with a 72% gap.
Rent index 2.4 vs 8.5 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Agra — Lower housing / rent index (72% gap).
- Families: Agra — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Agra; purchasing power favors Delhi.
- Remote Workers: Agra — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Agra (~45% gap).
- Budget Living: Agra — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Agra is the overall cost winner on CPI (~45% lower everyday-cost index than Delhi).
- Housing: Agra leads on rent index (72% gap).
- Food / groceries: Agra is lower (37% gap).
- Purchasing power: Delhi scores higher (51% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$269 cheaper in Agra.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 18.7/10.3, rent 8.5/2.4, purchasing power 60/29.3. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-25
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Nearby
On-page labels for this view: Real · Nearby.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.