New Delhi vs Lucknow Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for New Delhi vs Lucknow: everyday costs favor Lucknow (~30% CPI gap), housing index favors Lucknow, wage stretch favors New Delhi. 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: Salary (391% gap, Lucknow ahead); Utilities (79% gap, Lucknow ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $248 lower in Lucknow than in New Delhi (~61% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $248 (favoring Lucknow).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lucknow | CPI 13.4 vs 19.2 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lucknow | Rent index 4 vs 9 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lucknow | Groceries index 16.5 vs 23.5 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Lucknow | One-way ticket 26.64 vs 30 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Lucknow | Utilities (85m²) 668 vs 3200 (lower is better) |
| Internet | New Delhi | Internet 750 vs 876.75 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Lucknow | Restaurant index 12 vs 17.5 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Lucknow | Avg net salary 284735 vs 58000 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | New Delhi | PP index 62 vs 55 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Lucknow leads with a 391% gap.
Avg net salary 284735 vs 58000 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lucknow — Lower housing / rent index (56% gap).
- Families: Lucknow — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lucknow; purchasing power favors New Delhi.
- Remote Workers: Lucknow — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lucknow (~30% gap).
- Budget Living: Lucknow — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lucknow is the overall cost winner on CPI (~30% lower everyday-cost index than New Delhi).
- Housing: Lucknow leads on rent index (56% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lucknow is lower (30% gap).
- Purchasing power: New Delhi scores higher (11% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (391%), favoring Lucknow.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$248 cheaper in Lucknow.
Analysis
New Delhi versus Lucknow is not a single number. With a 30% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Lucknow, while housing follows Lucknow's rent index. Purchasing power (62 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.