😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $560 in Bangalore versus $398 in Lucknow.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $952 in Bangalore versus $637 in Lucknow.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,344 in Bangalore versus $876 in Lucknow.
🌍Living in Bangalore is roughly 41% more expensive than in Lucknow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bangalore58% lower, Lucknow70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bangalore
Lucknow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56₹344
$2.37₹228
50.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.57₹1,694
$11.62₹1,120
51.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.05₹390
$3.43₹331
18.08%
Cappuccino
$2.40₹232
$1.50₹145
60.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₹44.01
$0.33₹32.06
39.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16₹15.26
$0.13₹12.13
23.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.38₹230
$1.69₹163
40.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96₹382
$2.49₹240
59.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bangalore
Lucknow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.65₹62.5
$0.78₹75.7
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62₹59.9
$0.52₹50.3
19.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86₹82.8
$0.65₹62.8
32.31%
Eggs
$1.04₹100
$0.99₹95.4
5.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.80₹752
$3.70₹357
110.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.85₹371
$2.71₹262
42.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65₹256
$1.78₹172
48.88%
Banana(1kg)
$0.74₹71.6
$0.65₹62.3
13.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13₹109
$0.87₹83.5
29.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.43₹41.89
$0.56₹54.3
-23.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.47₹45.42
$0.32₹31.24
46.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51₹49.12
$0.45₹43.53
13.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44₹42.37
$0.35₹33.50
25.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹33.96
$0.34₹32.42
2.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10₹395
$3.93₹379
4.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.25₹988
$8.07₹778
27.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11₹204
$1.64₹158
28.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31₹320
$2.83₹273
16.96%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.46₹719
$5.78₹558
29.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Bangalore
Lucknow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57₹54.8
$0.49₹46.83
16.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.55₹1,404
$10.28₹992
41.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₹113
$1.14₹110
3.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₹33.86
$0.42₹40.24
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.36₹227
$1.38₹133
71.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₹117
$1.21₹117
0.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8K₹1.3M
$15.5K₹1.5M
-10.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K₹2.4M
$23.8K₹2.3M
3.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangalore
Lucknow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.61₹3,338
$43.20₹4,166
-19.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.99₹481
$3.64₹351
37.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.67₹1,029
$7.64₹737
39.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bangalore
Lucknow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.61₹1,795
$22.05₹2,126
-15.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.99₹577
$8.81₹849
-32.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60₹444
$3.47₹334
32.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bangalore
Lucknow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117₹11.3K
$56.6₹5,456
106.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,283₹316.6K
$1,645₹158.6K
99.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bangalore
Lucknow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.50₹2,652
$26.76₹2,581
2.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.18₹2,814
$24.48₹2,361
19.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.0₹5,299
$41.50₹4,002
32.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.64₹3,919
$25.11₹2,421
61.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bangalore
Lucknow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$308₹29.7K
$148₹14.3K
108.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178₹17.2K
$88.8₹8,564
100.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$818₹78.9K
$356₹34.3K
130.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$485₹46.7K
$210₹20.2K
131.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,824₹175.8K
$1,152₹111.1K
58.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$988₹95.2K
$527₹50.8K
87.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bangalore
Lucknow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$787₹75.9K
$360₹34.7K
118.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.19
8.72
5.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bangalore: July 12, 2026
Last update for Lucknow: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $308 in Bangalore and $148 in Lucknow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bangalore pays 118% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $18.00 in Bangalore vs $12.00 in Lucknow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $133 vs $101 per month, with Lucknow cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bangalore vs Lucknow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bangalore or Lucknow?
Lucknow wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Bangalore. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lucknow the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bangalore or in Lucknow?
Average pay runs 118% higher in Bangalore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bangalore compared to Lucknow?
Rent for a central apartment: $308 in Bangalore versus $148 in Lucknow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Bangalore compared to Lucknow?
A monthly transit pass in Lucknow runs roughly 42% less than in Bangalore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Bangalore and in Lucknow?
Childcare runs $117 in Bangalore versus $56.6 in Lucknow. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bangalore or in Lucknow?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Lucknow gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bangalore or Lucknow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lucknow delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $398 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lucknow hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lucknow gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Bangalore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.