🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $386 in Lucknow versus $551 in Bangalore.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $592 in Lucknow versus $941 in Bangalore.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $797 in Lucknow versus $1,332 in Bangalore.
🌍Living in Lucknow costs roughly 30% less than in Bangalore, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lucknow72% lower, Bangalore60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lucknow
Bangalore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.89₹181
$3.08₹294
-38.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.38₹992
$18.67₹1,783
-44.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.11₹297
$4.84₹462
-35.74%
Cappuccino
$1.59₹152
$2.33₹222
-31.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₹35.65
$0.42₹40.40
-11.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12₹11.26
$0.15₹14.18
-20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.64₹156
$2.30₹219
-28.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₹228
$4.00₹383
-40.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lucknow
Bangalore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74₹71.1
$0.61₹58.3
21.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45₹42.90
$0.54₹51.1
-16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.59₹56.8
$0.77₹73.4
-23.38%
Eggs
$1.01₹96.9
$1.06₹101
-4.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.67₹351
$6.42₹614
-42.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.59₹247
$3.83₹366
-32.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71₹163
$2.75₹263
-37.82%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63₹59.9
$0.71₹67.4
-11.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93₹89.1
$1.18₹112
-21.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51₹48.53
$0.42₹40.59
21.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30₹28.38
$0.36₹34.34
-16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45₹42.56
$0.37₹35.33
21.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45₹43.12
$0.43₹41.00
4.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32₹30.78
$0.33₹31.93
-3.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07₹484
$4.75₹454
6.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.62₹823
$9.17₹876
-6.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66₹159
$1.96₹187
-15.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58₹246
$2.98₹285
-13.42%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.72₹546
$6.40₹611
-10.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lucknow
Bangalore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44₹41.85
$0.51₹48.55
-13.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.21₹498
$15.65₹1,496
-66.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92₹88.1
$1.08₹103
-14.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₹21.03
$0.31₹29.52
-29.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.19₹114
$2.17₹207
-45.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12₹107
$1.09₹104
2.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.5K₹1.2M
$12.2K₹1.2M
1.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K₹2.1M
$18.8K₹1.8M
17.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lucknow
Bangalore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.2₹5,080
$30.07₹2,873
76.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.66₹350
$4.20₹401
-12.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.78₹839
$10.17₹971
-13.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lucknow
Bangalore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.75₹1,505
$18.23₹1,742
-13.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.97₹666
$6.00₹574
16.17%
Cinema Ticket
$3.26₹311
$4.70₹449
-30.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lucknow
Bangalore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.71₹3,794
$108₹10.3K
-63.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,008₹96.3K
$3,128₹298.8K
-67.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lucknow
Bangalore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.50₹2,246
$32.74₹3,128
-28.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.67₹2,357
$29.62₹2,830
-16.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.15₹3,645
$51.9₹4,955
-26.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.32₹2,419
$39.59₹3,782
-36.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lucknow
Bangalore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$129₹12.3K
$317₹30.3K
-59.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.4₹7,391
$185₹17.6K
-58.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$355₹33.9K
$825₹78.9K
-57.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173₹16.5K
$499₹47.7K
-65.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,300₹124.2K
$1,872₹178.8K
-30.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$551₹52.6K
$1,076₹102.8K
-48.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lucknow
Bangalore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$339₹32.4K
$857₹81.9K
-60.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.53
8.52
0.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lucknow: September 6, 2026
Last update for Bangalore: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $129 in Lucknow and $317 in Bangalore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bangalore pays 153% 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: $10.00 in Lucknow vs $19.00 in Bangalore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $124 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
Lucknow vs Bangalore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lucknow or Bangalore?
Lucknow wins on cost – living expenses run 43% 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 Lucknow or in Bangalore?
On paper, salaries run 153% lower in Bangalore. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lucknow compared to Bangalore?
Rent for a central apartment: $129 in Lucknow versus $317 in Bangalore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lucknow compared to Bangalore?
A monthly transit pass in Lucknow runs roughly 200% 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 Lucknow and in Bangalore?
Childcare runs $39.71 in Lucknow versus $108 in Bangalore. 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 Lucknow or in Bangalore?
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, Lucknow or Bangalore?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lucknow delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $386 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 43% less than in Bangalore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.