🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $398 in Lucknow versus $1,031 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $637 in Lucknow versus $1,599 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $876 in Lucknow versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Lucknow costs roughly 61% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lucknow70% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.37₹228
$6.16COP 20.1K
-61.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.62₹1,120
$32.60COP 106.1K
-64.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.43₹331
$7.34COP 23.9K
-53.27%
Cappuccino
$1.50₹145
$1.72COP 5,599
-12.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33₹32.06
$1.05COP 3,420
-68.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13₹12.13
$0.77COP 2,515
-83.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69₹163
$1.69COP 5,487
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49₹240
$3.17COP 10.3K
-21.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.78₹75.7
$1.05COP 3,423
-25.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52₹50.3
$1.30COP 4,236
-60.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65₹62.8
$1.40COP 4,544
-53.57%
Eggs
$0.99₹95.4
$2.16COP 7,046
-54.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.70₹357
$4.39COP 14.3K
-15.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.71₹262
$5.88COP 19.1K
-53.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.64COP 28.1K
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.78₹172
$2.28COP 7,425
-21.93%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65₹62.3
$1.11COP 3,603
-41.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.87₹83.5
$1.53COP 4,982
-43.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56₹54.3
$1.35COP 4,410
-58.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.32₹31.24
$1.13COP 3,674
-71.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45₹43.53
$1.13COP 3,692
-60.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35₹33.50
$0.85COP 2,753
-58.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34₹32.42
$0.91COP 2,975
-62.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93₹379
$2.34COP 7,629
67.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.07₹778
$12.37COP 40.3K
-34.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64₹158
$1.20COP 3,909
36.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83₹273
$2.49COP 8,104
13.65%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.78₹558
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₹46.83
$0.84COP 2,727
-41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.28₹992
$40.57COP 132.1K
-74.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₹110
$1.42COP 4,623
-19.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42₹40.24
$1.92COP 6,235
-78.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.38₹133
$7.66COP 24.9K
-81.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21₹117
$0.99COP 3,223
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.5K₹1.5M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
-13.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K₹2.3M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-10.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.20₹4,166
$80.8COP 263.1K
-46.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.64₹351
$9.95COP 32.4K
-63.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.64₹737
$24.18COP 78.7K
-68.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.05₹2,126
$25.08COP 81.6K
-12.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.81₹849
$19.15COP 62.3K
-53.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47₹334
$3.98COP 13.0K
-12.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.6₹5,456
$305COP 993.4K
-81.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,645₹158.6K
$6,059COP 19.7M
-72.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.76₹2,581
$58.1COP 189.2K
-53.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.48₹2,361
$32.20COP 104.8K
-23.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.50₹4,002
$101COP 327.9K
-58.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.11₹2,421
$108COP 350.8K
-76.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$148₹14.3K
$477COP 1.6M
-68.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$88.8₹8,564
$376COP 1.2M
-76.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$356₹34.3K
$845COP 2.7M
-57.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210₹20.2K
$730COP 2.4M
-71.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,152₹111.1K
$3,215COP 10.5M
-64.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$527₹50.8K
$1,372COP 4.5M
-61.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lucknow
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$360₹34.7K
$617COP 2.0M
-41.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.72
13.43
-35.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lucknow: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $148 in Lucknow and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 71% 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: $12.00 in Lucknow vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $193 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, Getting Around. The 159% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lucknow or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 71% 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: $148 in Lucknow versus $477 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 $12.00 versus $33.00 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 $398 per month in Lucknow versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 159% 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 $398 in Lucknow versus $1,031 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 159% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.