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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $527 per month in Delhi vs $467 in Ludhiana, rent included.

A couple spends around $880 per month in Delhi vs $805 in Ludhiana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,232 per month in Delhi vs $1,144 in Ludhiana, rent included.

Delhi costs about 13% more than Ludhiana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Delhi and Ludhiana are more affordable than the global median – Delhi 61% lower, Ludhiana 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.66 ₹352
$3.41 ₹327
7.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.58 ₹1,975
$10.60 ₹1,017
94.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.87 ₹372
$3.74 ₹359
3.48%
Cappuccino
$2.37 ₹227
$1.99 ₹191
19.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₹36.50
$0.38 ₹36.23
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ₹15.66
$0.22 ₹20.97
-27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.06 ₹197
$1.71 ₹164
20.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 ₹297
$3.53 ₹339
-12.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 ₹66.2
$0.69 ₹66.1
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.83
$0.55 ₹52.9
-5.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.79 ₹75.7
$0.77 ₹74.0
2.60%
Eggs
$1.12 ₹107
$0.88 ₹84.7
27.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 ₹424
$3.93 ₹377
12.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ₹326
$2.97 ₹285
14.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 ₹193
$2.11 ₹202
-4.74%
Banana (1kg)
$0.74 ₹71.4
$0.58 ₹55.9
27.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 ₹94.0
$0.87 ₹83.1
12.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 ₹52.1
$0.38 ₹36.74
42.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.29 ₹27.71
$0.28 ₹26.96
3.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ₹39.14
$0.29 ₹27.71
41.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 ₹46.64
$0.40 ₹38.34
22.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₹27.55
$0.35 ₹33.66
-17.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.96 ₹475
$3.46 ₹332
43.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.59 ₹824
$12.62 ₹1,211
-31.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₹160
$1.82 ₹174
-8.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ₹260
$3.12 ₹299
-13.14%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.18 ₹593
$6.95 ₹667
-11.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ₹41.90
$0.50 ₹48.07
-12.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.54 ₹1,491
$15.86 ₹1,521
-2.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 ₹91.9
$1.55 ₹149
-38.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₹23.84
$0.40 ₹38.52
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 ₹153
$2.14 ₹205
-25.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₹105
$1.09 ₹104
0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.4K ₹1.1M
$16.9K ₹1.6M
-32.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2K ₹1.8M
$22.0K ₹2.1M
-12.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.81 ₹4,012
$52.0 ₹4,991
-19.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10 ₹393
$3.15 ₹302
30.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.84 ₹656
$5.91 ₹567
15.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.63 ₹1,883
$14.93 ₹1,432
31.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.42 ₹807
$10.25 ₹983
-17.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.12 ₹491
$3.73 ₹358
37.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$99.2 ₹9,519
$72.6 ₹6,962
36.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,050 ₹196.7K
$1,442 ₹138.4K
42.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.16 ₹2,414
$21.50 ₹2,063
17.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.75 ₹2,758
$33.05 ₹3,171
-13.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.9 ₹5,070
$68.6 ₹6,581
-22.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.54 ₹4,465
$36.74 ₹3,525
26.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 ₹25.9K
$174 ₹16.7K
55.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 ₹14.6K
$103 ₹9,878
47.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 ₹66.2K
$412 ₹39.5K
67.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 ₹35.5K
$386 ₹37.0K
-4.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,525 ₹242.3K
$587 ₹56.3K
330.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$950 ₹91.2K
$501 ₹48.0K
89.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Ludhiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$582 ₹55.8K
$430 ₹41.2K
35.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.6
9.17
-6.22%

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

Last update for Delhi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ludhiana: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Delhi versus $174 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 35% 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 $21.00 in Delhi versus $11.00 in Ludhiana. Groceries tell a different story – $109 in Delhi vs $113 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 in Ludhiana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $527 in Delhi, $467 in Ludhiana – roughly 13% 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 $791 per month in Delhi and $700 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 $21.00 in Delhi and $11.00 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 $527 in Delhi and $467 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 compared to Ludhiana?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $527 in Delhi and $467 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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