😐A single person spends $524 per month in Hyderabad vs $400 in Lucknow, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $855 per month in Hyderabad vs $641 in Lucknow, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,187 per month in Hyderabad vs $881 in Lucknow, rent included.
😐Hyderabad costs about 31% more than Lucknow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hyderabad and Lucknow are more affordable than the global median – Hyderabad61% lower, Lucknow70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52₹337
$2.39₹228
47.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.38₹1,663
$11.44₹1,095
51.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.22₹499
$3.54₹339
47.46%
Cappuccino
$2.03₹194
$1.50₹143
35.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₹39.75
$0.34₹32.07
23.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹18.19
$0.13₹12.37
46.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05₹196
$1.79₹171
14.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41₹326
$2.54₹244
34.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82₹78.8
$0.78₹74.7
5.13%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62₹59.2
$0.49₹46.76
26.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76₹73.1
$0.71₹68.0
7.04%
Eggs
$0.98₹94.1
$1.04₹99.1
-5.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.21₹595
$3.68₹352
68.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.81₹365
$2.76₹264
38.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.80₹268
$1.75₹167
60.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76₹72.3
$0.66₹63.2
15.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03₹98.8
$0.88₹84.3
17.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51₹48.42
$0.56₹54.0
-8.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46₹44.33
$0.35₹33.95
31.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52₹50.2
$0.49₹47.06
6.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66₹63.6
$0.37₹35.82
78.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37₹35.16
$0.36₹34.78
2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19₹401
$3.78₹362
10.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.46₹810
$7.76₹743
9.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02₹193
$1.64₹157
23.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96₹283
$2.85₹273
3.86%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.42₹614
$5.51₹527
16.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60₹57.3
$0.49₹46.67
22.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.39₹1,472
$10.42₹997
47.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₹112
$1.15₹110
1.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₹31.55
$0.38₹36.73
-13.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.56₹149
$1.39₹133
12.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29₹123
$1.17₹112
10.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K₹1.7M
$15.6K₹1.5M
10.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K₹2.3M
$23.6K₹2.3M
2.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.20₹3,751
$44.86₹4,293
-12.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.42₹423
$3.65₹349
21.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.41₹805
$7.52₹719
11.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.22₹2,030
$22.11₹2,116
-4.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.93₹759
$9.33₹893
-15.01%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98₹381
$3.55₹339
12.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116₹11.1K
$57.1₹5,461
102.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,589₹247.8K
$1,631₹156.1K
58.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.68₹2,936
$26.33₹2,519
16.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.17₹2,313
$24.82₹2,375
-2.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.28₹4,716
$41.55₹3,976
18.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.37₹3,576
$25.31₹2,422
47.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239₹22.9K
$147₹14.1K
62.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137₹13.1K
$85.9₹8,219
59.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$627₹60.0K
$346₹33.1K
81.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336₹32.2K
$210₹20.1K
60.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,364₹130.5K
$1,183₹113.2K
15.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$753₹72.1K
$535₹51.2K
40.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,182₹113.1K
$369₹35.3K
219.90%
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 Hyderabad: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lucknow: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Hyderabad versus $147 in Lucknow. 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 220% higher in Hyderabad, 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 $17.00 in Hyderabad versus $11.00 in Lucknow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $127 vs $101 – making Lucknow the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Hyderabad vs Lucknow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hyderabad or Lucknow?
Hyderabad costs about 31% more than Lucknow, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hyderabad vs Lucknow?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $786 per month in Hyderabad and $601 in Lucknow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hyderabad or Lucknow?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lucknow, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Hyderabad vs Lucknow?
Public transport costs about 48% less in Lucknow. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hyderabad and Lucknow?
Kindergarten costs $116 per month in Hyderabad and $57.1 in Lucknow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hyderabad or Lucknow?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $524 in Hyderabad and $400 in Lucknow, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hyderabad or Lucknow?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lucknow costs $400 versus $524 in Hyderabad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Hyderabad or Lucknow?
If budget matters most, go with Lucknow. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hyderabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.