Lucknow vs Agra Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Lucknow vs Agra: everyday costs favor Agra (~23% CPI gap), housing index favors Agra, wage stretch favors Lucknow. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Agra
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (91% gap, Lucknow ahead); Internet (47% gap, Agra ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $48 lower in Agra than in Lucknow (~30% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $48 (favoring Agra).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Agra | CPI 10.3 vs 13.4 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Agra | Rent index 2.4 vs 4 (lower is better) |
| Food | Agra | Groceries index 14.4 vs 16.5 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Agra | One-way ticket 15.2 vs 26.64 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Lucknow | Utilities (85m²) 668 vs 847.06 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Agra | Internet 469 vs 876.75 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Agra | Restaurant index 8 vs 12 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Lucknow | Avg net salary 284735 vs 25393.33 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Lucknow | PP index 55 vs 29.3 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Lucknow leads with a 91% gap.
Avg net salary 284735 vs 25393.33 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Agra — Lower housing / rent index (40% gap).
- Families: Agra — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Agra; purchasing power favors Lucknow.
- Remote Workers: Agra — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Agra (~23% gap).
- Budget Living: Agra — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Agra is the overall cost winner on CPI (~23% lower everyday-cost index than Lucknow).
- Housing: Agra leads on rent index (40% gap).
- Food / groceries: Agra is lower (13% gap).
- Purchasing power: Lucknow scores higher (47% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (91%), favoring Lucknow.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$48 cheaper in Agra.
Analysis
Lucknow versus Agra is not a single number. With a 23% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Agra, while housing follows Agra's rent index. Purchasing power (55 vs 29.3) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-26
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.