🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $386 in Lucknow versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $592 in Lucknow versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $797 in Lucknow versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Lucknow costs roughly 76% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lucknow is 72% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.89₹181
$8.04COP 24.8K
-76.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.38₹992
$48.29COP 148.6K
-78.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.11₹297
$9.42COP 29.0K
-66.99%
Cappuccino
$1.59₹152
$2.94COP 9,040
-45.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₹35.65
$1.86COP 5,735
-80.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12₹11.26
$1.46COP 4,479
-91.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.64₹156
$3.21COP 9,882
-48.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₹228
$5.71COP 17.6K
-58.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74₹71.1
$1.44COP 4,428
-48.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45₹42.90
$2.40COP 7,389
-81.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.59₹56.8
$1.70COP 5,228
-65.29%
Eggs
$1.01₹96.9
$2.89COP 8,896
-65.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.67₹351
$10.06COP 30.9K
-63.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.59₹247
$9.97COP 30.7K
-74.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$14.20COP 43.7K
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.71₹163
$3.98COP 12.3K
-57.04%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63₹59.9
$1.58COP 4,878
-60.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93₹89.1
$2.15COP 6,624
-56.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51₹48.53
$2.30COP 7,078
-77.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30₹28.38
$2.00COP 6,169
-85.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45₹42.56
$1.51COP 4,646
-70.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45₹43.12
$1.20COP 3,701
-62.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32₹30.78
$1.28COP 3,946
-75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07₹484
$3.84COP 11.8K
32.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.62₹823
$14.01COP 43.1K
-38.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66₹159
$1.71COP 5,256
-2.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58₹246
$2.74COP 8,440
-5.84%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.72₹546
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44₹41.85
$1.25COP 3,834
-64.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.21₹498
$77.9COP 239.7K
-93.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92₹88.1
$1.31COP 4,016
-29.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₹21.03
$2.17COP 6,680
-89.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.19₹114
$8.29COP 25.5K
-85.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12₹107
$1.36COP 4,172
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.5K₹1.2M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-54.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K₹2.1M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-39.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.2₹5,080
$169COP 519.2K
-68.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.66₹350
$13.57COP 41.8K
-73.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.78₹839
$28.32COP 87.2K
-69.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.75₹1,505
$45.71COP 140.7K
-65.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.97₹666
$17.22COP 53.0K
-59.52%
Cinema Ticket
$3.26₹311
$6.65COP 20.5K
-50.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.71₹3,794
$803COP 2.5M
-95.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,008₹96.3K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-89.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.50₹2,246
$87.4COP 268.8K
-73.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.67₹2,357
$59.4COP 182.7K
-58.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.15₹3,645
$139COP 427.5K
-72.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.32₹2,419
$102COP 314.0K
-75.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$129₹12.3K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-87.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.4₹7,391
$653COP 2.0M
-88.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$355₹33.9K
$1,925COP 5.9M
-81.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173₹16.5K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-83.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,300₹124.2K
$4,123COP 12.7M
-68.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$551₹52.6K
$1,697COP 5.2M
-67.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$339₹32.4K
$655COP 2.0M
-48.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.53
10.94
-22.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lucknow: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $129 in Lucknow and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 93% 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 $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $300 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Lucknow?
Lucknow is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 325% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lucknow or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 93% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lucknow and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $129 in Lucknow versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lucknow or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Lucknow – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lucknow and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $386 per month in Lucknow versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 325% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lucknow or in Medellin?
At $386 in Lucknow versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lucknow but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Lucknow the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lucknow or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Lucknow is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lucknow gentler on the wallet – expenses run 325% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.