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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
New Delhi vs Lucknow in 2026: cost index 128 vs 78, rent ₹22,000 vs ₹10,000, income ₹6,80,000 vs ₹4,00,000, QoL 46 vs 54.
New Delhi vs Lucknow in 2026: cost index 128 vs 78, rent ₹22,000 vs ₹10,000, income ₹6,80,000 vs ₹4,00,000, QoL 46 vs 54.
New Delhi ranks #1 with a cost index of 128 and rent of ₹22,000/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 103 (+10 vs national average of 93).
Average quality of life: 50/100. Top: New Delhi at 46/100.
Safest city: Lucknow (55/100 safety score).
The numbers tell a story most people wouldn't expect. New Delhi stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 128 and median income of ₹6,80,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. Financially, that's significant.
On quality of life, Lucknow leads with a composite score of 54/100 — reflecting its safety (55), healthcare (62), and walkability (38) metrics. Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and India is a good example of that tension.
The country average QoL score is 57/100. New Delhi leads with 46/100, reflecting its safety, healthcare access, walkability, and green space.
Our index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Sub-categories cover housing, food, transport, utilities, and healthcare. Data sources include MoSPI CPI, RBI, NHB RESIDEX, PLFS.
New Delhi (ranked #1) has a cost index of 128 and rent of ₹22,000/mo. Lucknow (#2) has index 78 and rent ₹10,000/mo — a 50-point gap.