Kolkata vs Lucknow Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Kolkata vs Lucknow: everyday costs favor Lucknow (~12% CPI gap), housing index favors Lucknow, wage stretch favors Kolkata. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Lucknow
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (27% gap, Lucknow ahead); Utilities (27% gap, Lucknow ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $57 lower in Lucknow than in Kolkata (~26% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $57 (favoring Lucknow).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lucknow | CPI 13.4 vs 15.3 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lucknow | Rent index 4 vs 5.5 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lucknow | Groceries index 16.5 vs 19 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Lucknow | One-way ticket 26.64 vs 29.06 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Lucknow | Utilities (85m²) 668 vs 918.5 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Lucknow | Internet 876.75 vs 993.65 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Lucknow | Restaurant index 12 vs 14 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Kolkata | Avg net salary 300266 vs 284735 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Kolkata | PP index 58 vs 55 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Lucknow leads with a 27% gap.
Rent index 4 vs 5.5 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lucknow — Lower housing / rent index (27% gap).
- Families: Lucknow — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lucknow; purchasing power favors Kolkata.
- Remote Workers: Lucknow — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lucknow (~12% gap).
- Budget Living: Lucknow — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lucknow is the overall cost winner on CPI (~12% lower everyday-cost index than Kolkata).
- Housing: Lucknow leads on rent index (27% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lucknow is lower (13% gap).
- Purchasing power: Kolkata scores higher (5% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$57 cheaper in Lucknow.
Analysis
Kolkata versus Lucknow is not a single number. With a 12% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Lucknow, while housing follows Lucknow's rent index. Purchasing power (58 vs 55) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-11
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Real
On-page labels for this view: Real · Real.
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.