😐A single person spends $520 per month in Hyderabad vs $398 in Lucknow, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $856 per month in Hyderabad vs $637 in Lucknow, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,191 per month in Hyderabad vs $876 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
$3.39₹327
$2.37₹228
43.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.77₹1,714
$11.62₹1,120
52.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29₹510
$3.43₹331
54.23%
Cappuccino
$2.00₹193
$1.50₹145
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₹40.26
$0.33₹32.06
27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18₹17.19
$0.13₹12.13
38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₹205
$1.69₹163
26.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45₹333
$2.49₹240
38.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86₹83.3
$0.78₹75.7
10.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56₹54.5
$0.52₹50.3
7.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71₹68.9
$0.65₹62.8
9.23%
Eggs
$1.03₹99.8
$0.99₹95.4
4.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.33₹611
$3.70₹357
71.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.89₹375
$2.71₹262
43.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77₹267
$1.78₹172
55.62%
Banana(1kg)
$0.72₹69.3
$0.65₹62.3
10.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03₹99.6
$0.87₹83.5
18.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47₹45.63
$0.56₹54.3
-16.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46₹44.14
$0.32₹31.24
43.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52₹49.87
$0.45₹43.53
15.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71₹68.2
$0.35₹33.50
102.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33₹32.25
$0.34₹32.42
-2.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19₹404
$3.93₹379
6.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.00₹868
$8.07₹778
11.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98₹191
$1.64₹158
20.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96₹285
$2.83₹273
4.59%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.65₹642
$5.78₹558
15.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59₹57.2
$0.49₹46.83
20.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.83₹1,430
$10.28₹992
44.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13₹109
$1.14₹110
-0.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₹34.22
$0.42₹40.24
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.61₹156
$1.38₹133
16.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29₹124
$1.21₹117
6.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K₹1.7M
$15.5K₹1.5M
12.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K₹2.4M
$23.8K₹2.3M
2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.58₹3,817
$43.20₹4,166
-8.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.51₹435
$3.64₹351
23.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.45₹814
$7.64₹737
10.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.27₹2,051
$22.05₹2,126
-3.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.68₹740
$8.81₹849
-12.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15₹400
$3.47₹334
19.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114₹11.0K
$56.6₹5,456
100.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,568₹247.7K
$1,645₹158.6K
56.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.43₹2,935
$26.76₹2,581
13.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.00₹2,314
$24.48₹2,361
-1.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.58₹4,588
$41.50₹4,002
14.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.43₹3,610
$25.11₹2,421
49.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234₹22.6K
$148₹14.3K
58.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138₹13.3K
$88.8₹8,564
55.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$629₹60.7K
$356₹34.3K
76.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331₹31.9K
$210₹20.2K
57.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,384₹133.5K
$1,152₹111.1K
20.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$772₹74.4K
$527₹50.8K
46.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,252₹120.8K
$360₹34.7K
247.66%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lucknow: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $234 in Hyderabad versus $148 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 248% 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 $18.00 in Hyderabad versus $12.00 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 and in Lucknow?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $780 per month in Hyderabad and $596 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 compared to Lucknow?
Public transport costs about 44% less in Lucknow. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hyderabad and in Lucknow?
Kindergarten costs $114 per month in Hyderabad and $56.6 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 in Lucknow?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $520 in Hyderabad and $398 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 $398 versus $520 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 to 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.