Surat vs Lucknow Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Surat vs Lucknow: everyday costs favor Lucknow (~4% CPI gap), housing index favors Lucknow, wage stretch favors Surat. 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 (14% gap, Surat ahead); Purchasing Power (14% gap, Surat ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $19 lower in Lucknow than in Surat (~11% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $19 (favoring Lucknow).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lucknow | CPI 13.4 vs 14 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lucknow | Rent index 4 vs 4.5 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lucknow | Groceries index 16.5 vs 17 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Lucknow | One-way ticket 26.64 vs 27.85 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Lucknow | Utilities (85m²) 668 vs 751.5 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Lucknow | Internet 876.75 vs 905.98 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Lucknow | Restaurant index 12 vs 12.5 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Surat | Avg net salary 331328 vs 284735 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Surat | PP index 64 vs 55 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Surat leads with a 14% gap.
Avg net salary 331328 vs 284735 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lucknow — Lower housing / rent index (11% gap).
- Families: Lucknow — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lucknow; purchasing power favors Surat.
- Remote Workers: Lucknow — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lucknow (~4% gap).
- Budget Living: Lucknow — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lucknow is the overall cost winner on CPI (~4% lower everyday-cost index than Surat).
- Housing: Lucknow leads on rent index (11% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lucknow is lower (3% gap).
- Purchasing power: Surat scores higher (14% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (14%), favoring Surat.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$19 cheaper in Lucknow.
Analysis
Surat versus Lucknow is not a single number. With a 4% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Lucknow, while housing follows Lucknow's rent index. Purchasing power (64 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.