Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Ludhiana Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Ludhiana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $546 per month in Delhi vs $516 in Ludhiana, rent included.

A couple spends around $861 per month in Delhi vs $913 in Ludhiana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,176 per month in Delhi vs $1,311 in Ludhiana, rent included.

Delhi costs about 6% more than Ludhiana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Delhi and Ludhiana are more affordable than the global median – Delhi 59% lower, Ludhiana 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.75 ₹453
$2.99 ₹285
58.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.98 ₹1,903
$11.70 ₹1,114
70.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.97 ₹378
$4.06 ₹386
-2.22%
Cappuccino
$2.05 ₹195
$1.93 ₹184
6.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₹45.06
$0.43 ₹40.97
9.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.59
$0.24 ₹22.67
-37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.06 ₹196
$1.71 ₹163
20.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ₹323
$3.40 ₹324
-0.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 ₹71.4
$0.77 ₹73.1
-2.60%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₹53.3
$0.57 ₹54.4
-1.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ₹87.0
$0.93 ₹89.0
-2.15%
Eggs
$1.12 ₹107
$0.96 ₹91.7
16.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 ₹433
$4.20 ₹400
8.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 ₹338
$3.36 ₹320
5.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 ₹192
$2.23 ₹212
-9.87%
Banana (1kg)
$0.84 ₹80.3
$0.70 ₹66.7
20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 ₹94.5
$0.92 ₹87.4
7.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 ₹56.3
$0.42 ₹40.36
40.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.06
$0.29 ₹27.27
34.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 ₹51.7
$0.32 ₹30.78
68.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ₹57.8
$0.49 ₹46.41
24.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₹34.97
$0.35 ₹33.03
5.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 ₹396
$3.70 ₹352
12.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.18 ₹874
$12.53 ₹1,194
-26.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₹177
$2.04 ₹195
-8.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₹274
$3.70 ₹352
-22.16%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.57 ₹530
$6.87 ₹655
-18.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 ₹50.5
$0.65 ₹62.3
-18.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.61 ₹1,106
$17.75 ₹1,690
-34.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 ₹53.7
$1.70 ₹162
-67.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ₹26.45
$0.35 ₹33.78
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 ₹124
$2.34 ₹223
-44.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ₹112
$1.18 ₹113
-0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K ₹1.7M
$16.7K ₹1.6M
6.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K ₹2.3M
$21.2K ₹2.0M
12.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.4 ₹6,322
$62.5 ₹5,948
6.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31 ₹411
$3.45 ₹328
24.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.99 ₹761
$6.59 ₹628
21.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.25 ₹1,929
$16.83 ₹1,604
20.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.15 ₹967
$6.58 ₹627
54.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.61 ₹439
$3.96 ₹377
16.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$78.5 ₹7,480
$78.9 ₹7,511
-0.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,010 ₹191.5K
$1,580 ₹150.5K
27.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.20 ₹2,591
$24.65 ₹2,348
10.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.17 ₹2,969
$36.23 ₹3,452
-13.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.50 ₹4,620
$64.1 ₹6,101
-24.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.01 ₹3,431
$41.08 ₹3,913
-12.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 ₹22.8K
$199 ₹19.0K
20.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 ₹12.9K
$119 ₹11.3K
13.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 ₹55.6K
$509 ₹48.5K
14.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$322 ₹30.7K
$499 ₹47.6K
-35.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,503 ₹238.4K
$596 ₹56.8K
319.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$931 ₹88.7K
$497 ₹47.3K
87.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$531 ₹50.5K
$427 ₹40.7K
24.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
8.62
4.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Delhi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ludhiana: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Delhi versus $199 in Ludhiana. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Delhi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Delhi versus $12.00 in Ludhiana. Groceries tell a different story – $117 in Delhi vs $122 in Ludhiana – so Delhi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Delhi vs Ludhiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Delhi and Ludhiana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $546 in Delhi, $516 in Ludhiana – roughly 6% apart. Delhi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Delhi compared to Ludhiana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $819 per month in Delhi and $774 in Ludhiana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Delhi and Ludhiana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ludhiana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Delhi and $12.00 in Ludhiana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Delhi or Ludhiana?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $546 in Delhi and $516 in Ludhiana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,200 go in Delhi vs Ludhiana?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $546 in Delhi and $516 in Ludhiana, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Delhi or Ludhiana?
Families tend to lean toward Ludhiana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Delhi and Ludhiana?
If budget matters most, go with Ludhiana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Delhi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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