Lucknow vs Pune

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Lucknow 9% cheaper N/A / Moderate
Nomad Cost

$830

Lucknow

$909

Pune

Internet

61

Mbps

61

Mbps

Safety

N/A

Lucknow

Moderate

Pune

Air Quality

5/5

Lucknow

5/5

Pune

Healthcare

N/A

Lucknow

High

Pune

Population

2.9m

Lucknow

3.1m

Pune

Lucknow and Pune are both in India, making this one of the most common comparisons for digital nomads planning a base in the region. This guide breaks down the key differences across cost, internet, safety, weather, and quality of life.

Cost of Living

The cost difference is noticeable: Lucknow at $830/mo is 9% cheaper than Pune at $909/mo, worth considering for extended stays.

For families, Lucknow costs $668.408773077319/mo compared to Pune's $1205.209593514736/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Internet speeds are nearly identical — Lucknow at 61 Mbps and Pune at 61 Mbps. Both handle video calls and uploads well.

Quality of Life

Both Lucknow and Pune share the same safety rating — travelers can feel equally comfortable in either city.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Lucknow and Pune.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Lucknow is February (around 23 degrees, 0mm rain, score 375), while Pune peaks in January (31 degrees, 0mm rain, score 440). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

LucknowPune
Nomad$830/mo$909/mo
Expat$484/mo$555/mo
Local$191/mo$344/mo
Family$668/mo$1,205/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

LucknowPune
City Speed
61 Mbps
61 Mbps
Country Speed61 Mbps61 Mbps

Environment & Health

LucknowPune
Air Quality Score5/55/5
PollutionN/AHigh
ClimateN/AHigh
Humidity1825

Quality of Life

LucknowPune
SafetyN/AModerate
HealthcareN/AHigh

Monthly Weather Comparison

Lucknow
Pune
Jan
19°
0mm335
31°
0mm440
Feb
23°
0mm375
33°
0mm420
Mar
30°
0mm375
36°
0mm390
Apr
38°
0mm325
40°
0mm390
May
42°
0mm315
40°
0mm390
Jun
44°
0mm315
33°
5mm337
Jul
40°
6mm191
29°
11mm122
Aug
38°
7mm196
30°
4mm245
Sep
37°
2mm303
32°
2mm347
Oct
36°
0mm375
34°
1mm426
Nov
29°
0mm375
30°
0mm440
Dec
22°
0mm355
31°
0mm440

Who Should Choose Lucknow?

  • Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $830
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $668.408773077319/mo for families
  • Major city energy with 2.9m residents
  • Peak season in February — 23 degrees, score 375

Who Should Choose Pune?

  • Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $909
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $1205.209593514736/mo for families
  • Major city energy with 3.1m residents
  • Peak season in January — 31 degrees, score 440

Overall Verdict

For the typical digital nomad, Pune is the stronger pick. At $909/mo it beats Lucknow's $830/mo by 9%, and the 61 Mbps internet handles video calls without issues.

Granular Price Comparison

Lucknow Pune
ItemLucknowPuneDiff
🍽️Restaurants8 items
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$3.07$3.68
17%
Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$12.28$14.74
17%
McMeal or equivalent combo$3.07$4.3
29%
Cappuccino (regular)$1.57$1.96
20%
Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$1.84$2.46
25%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.68$3.68
=
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.35$0.42
17%
Water (0.33L)$0.18$0.16
11%
🛒Markets19 items
Milk (1L)$0.68$0.74
8%
White bread (500g)$0.45$0.49
8%
White rice (1kg)$0.71$0.7
1%
Eggs (12)$1.03$0.95
8%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.48$3.32
5%
Beef round (1kg)$6.52$6.02
8%
Local cheese (1kg)$3.96$6.16
36%
Apples (1kg)$1.49$2.15
31%
Bananas (1kg)$0.58$0.68
15%
Oranges (1kg)$0.82$1.28
36%
Tomatoes (1kg)$0.43$0.57
25%
Potatoes (1kg)$0.25$0.41
39%
Onions (1kg)$0.35$0.41
15%
Lettuce (1 head)$0.43$0.59
27%
Water (1.5L bottle)$0.35$0.36
3%
Wine, mid-range bottle$6.14$7.98
23%
Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$1.81$2.12
15%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.39$3.21
5%
Cigarettes (pack of 20)$4.05$4.05
=
🚌Transport8 items
One-way local transport ticket$0.43$0.37
14%
Monthly transport pass$12.28$11.05
10%
Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.61$0.49
20%
Taxi per 1km$0.15$0.31
52%
Taxi 1hr waiting$1.23$1.23
=
Gasoline (1L)$1.25$1.39
10%
Volkswagen Golf (new)$14,738.11$12,281.76
17%
Toyota Corolla (new)$24,393.62$21,989.65
10%
⚡Utilities3 items
Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$47.83$25.46
47%
Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$8.66$9.57
10%
Mobile prepaid per minute$0.02$0.01
50%
🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items
Fitness club, monthly$19.96$20.63
3%
Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$10.23$6.49
37%
Cinema, 1 ticket$3.68$3.68
=
👶Childcare2 items
Preschool, full-day private/mo$51.34$86.38
41%
International primary school/yr$1,271.16$1,762.79
28%
👗Clothing4 items
Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$27.55$29.56
7%
Summer dress (chain store)$34.39$30.88
10%
Nike running shoes (mid-range)$40.91$42.84
5%
Men's leather business shoes$38.92$34.39
12%
🏠Rent4 items
1-bedroom apartment, city centre$122.82$219.79
44%
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$77.99$134.73
42%
3-bedroom apartment, city centre$305.51$485.56
37%
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$180.13$312.84
42%
🏗️Buy2 items
Price per m², city centre$1,067.19$1,690.47
37%
Price per m², outside centre$599.7$977.18
39%
💰Finance2 items
Average monthly net salary$569.74$803.85
29%
Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$8.47$8
6%

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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