😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $400 in Lucknow.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,255 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $641 in Lucknow.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,732 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $881 in Lucknow.
😐Living in Mumbai (Bombay) is roughly 95% more expensive than Lucknow, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mumbai (Bombay)42% lower, Lucknow70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Lucknow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32₹509
$2.39₹228
122.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.40₹2,143
$11.44₹1,095
95.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.63₹443
$3.54₹339
30.79%
Cappuccino
$2.52₹241
$1.50₹143
68.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51₹48.47
$0.34₹32.07
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.71
$0.13₹12.37
15.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28₹218
$1.79₹171
27.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95₹378
$2.54₹244
55.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Lucknow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75₹71.4
$0.78₹74.7
-3.85%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51₹49.04
$0.49₹46.76
4.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77₹74.0
$0.71₹68.0
8.45%
Eggs
$1.08₹103
$1.04₹99.1
3.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.14₹683
$3.68₹352
94.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.88₹372
$2.76₹264
40.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30₹220
$1.75₹167
31.43%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81₹77.7
$0.66₹63.2
22.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26₹121
$0.88₹84.3
43.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64₹61.0
$0.56₹54.0
14.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58₹55.1
$0.35₹33.95
65.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63₹60.4
$0.49₹47.06
28.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64₹61.3
$0.37₹35.82
72.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33₹31.14
$0.36₹34.78
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20₹402
$3.78₹362
11.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25₹790
$7.76₹743
6.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17₹208
$1.64₹157
32.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40₹325
$2.85₹273
19.30%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.03₹673
$5.51₹527
27.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Lucknow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹23.08
$0.49₹46.67
-51.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.51₹432
$10.42₹997
-56.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37₹35.03
$1.15₹110
-67.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.38₹36.73
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.41₹135
$1.39₹133
1.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19₹114
$1.17₹112
1.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K₹1.7M
$15.6K₹1.5M
11.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K₹2.3M
$23.6K₹2.3M
4.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Lucknow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.8₹4,860
$44.86₹4,293
13.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.81₹460
$3.65₹349
31.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.75₹837
$7.52₹719
16.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Lucknow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.11₹2,211
$22.11₹2,116
4.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.99₹1,147
$9.33₹893
28.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.71₹450
$3.55₹339
32.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Lucknow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$122₹11.6K
$57.1₹5,461
112.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,393₹324.7K
$1,631₹156.1K
108.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Lucknow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.14₹2,789
$26.33₹2,519
10.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.61₹2,929
$24.82₹2,375
23.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.2₹5,277
$41.55₹3,976
32.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.74₹3,803
$25.31₹2,422
57.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Lucknow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$705₹67.4K
$147₹14.1K
378.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357₹34.1K
$85.9₹8,219
315.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,792₹171.5K
$346₹33.1K
418.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$825₹79.0K
$210₹20.1K
293.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,436₹615.9K
$1,183₹113.2K
444.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,627₹251.4K
$535₹51.2K
391.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Lucknow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$744₹71.2K
$369₹35.3K
101.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.22
8.72
5.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): May 31, 2026
Last update for Lucknow: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Mumbai (Bombay) and $147 in Lucknow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mumbai (Bombay) pays 102% 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: $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) vs $11.00 in Lucknow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $129 vs $101 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
Mumbai (Bombay) vs Lucknow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lucknow cheaper than Mumbai (Bombay)?
Lucknow is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 95% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mumbai (Bombay) or Lucknow?
Mumbai (Bombay) pays 102% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Mumbai (Bombay) and Lucknow?
Rent for a central apartment: $705 in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $147 in Lucknow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Mumbai (Bombay) or Lucknow?
Dining out is cheaper in Lucknow – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Mumbai (Bombay) vs Lucknow?
All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Mumbai (Bombay) versus $400 in Lucknow – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mumbai (Bombay) or Lucknow?
At $400 in Lucknow versus $779 in Mumbai (Bombay), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lucknow but tight or insufficient in Mumbai (Bombay). The gap between the two cities makes Lucknow the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mumbai (Bombay) or Lucknow more family-friendly?
For families, Lucknow is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mumbai (Bombay), 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 95% less than in Mumbai (Bombay). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mumbai (Bombay) vs other spots: cost of living compared