Induction vs Gas: Which Is Actually Cheaper to Cook On? (India 2026)
It's far closer than either side claims. Induction is more efficient— but that doesn't make it the money-saver it's assumed to be. At ₹8 a unit and a ₹900 cylinder, with a typical real-world burner, gas is only about 15% cheaperper unit of cooking heat (~₹8.0 vs ~₹9.4) — and on a cheaper tariff slab or with an old burner, induction wins. Here's the real math, and the two things that decide it: your burner's efficiency and your electricity tariff.
Key Numbers at a Glance
Use this data
The full table as a CSV — ₹/useful-kWh, induction vs gas, by burner efficiency and tariff, plus task costs. Free to reuse with attribution (CC BY 4.0).
How to cite: PakkaPick, “Induction vs Gas Cooking Cost in India (2026),” pakkapick.in/induction-vs-gas-cooking-cost-india-2026 — CC BY 4.0
It hinges on your burner's real efficiency
Gas cost per unit of cooking heat depends entirely on how much of the flame actually reaches the pot. A BIS-marked stove is rated ~68% in the lab, but real kitchens run lower. Against induction's ~₹9.4/useful-kWh (at ₹8/unit):
| Gas burner efficiency | Gas ₹/useful kWh | vs induction (₹9.4) |
|---|---|---|
| 55% — old / poorly matched | ₹9.0 | gas 4% cheaper |
| 62% — typical real-world | ₹8.0 | gas 15% cheaper |
| 70% — well-tuned / BIS lab | ₹7.1 | gas 25% cheaper |
At a poor/old burner (~50%) gas rises to ~₹9.9/useful kWh — dearer than induction. So a well-maintained burner keeps gas cheaper; a neglected one hands the win to induction.
And on your electricity tariff
Induction's cost is just your tariff ÷ 85%. Against gas at ~₹8.0/useful kWh (₹900 cylinder, 62% burner), induction wins below ~₹6.8/unit:
| Electricity tariff | Induction ₹/useful kWh | Gas ₹/useful kWh | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹5 / unit | ₹5.9 | ₹8.0 | Induction |
| ₹6 / unit | ₹7.1 | ₹8.0 | Induction |
| ₹7 / unit | ₹8.2 | ₹8.0 | Gas |
| ₹8 / unit | ₹9.4 | ₹8.0 | Gas |
| ₹10 / unit | ₹11.8 | ₹8.0 | Gas |
Many households on modest usage pay a lower slab (~₹5–7/unit), where induction is cheaper. If your cylinder is subsidised, gas wins by more; above ~₹1,061 a cylinder, induction leads at ₹8/unit. Piped natural gas (PNG), where available, is cheaper than cylinder LPG — tilting further to gas.
What everyday cooking actually costs
At ₹8/unit, a ₹900 cylinder and a ~62% burner:
| Task | Useful heat | Gas | Induction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boil 1 litre of water | 0.09 kWh | ₹0.70 | ₹0.82 |
| Boil 3 litres (rice / pasta water) | 0.26 kWh | ₹2.09 | ₹2.46 |
| A month of a family's cooking | 112.7 kWh | ₹900 | ₹1,061 |
“Useful heat” is the energy delivered into the food (heating water uses 1.163 Wh per litre per °C); the appliance draws more because neither is 100% efficient. The monthly row assumes roughly one 14.2 kg cylinder's worth of cooking (~113 useful kWh) — gas ≈ one ₹900 cylinder, induction ≈ ₹1,061.
So why switch to induction at all?
Not to slash the energy bill — that's a wash. Induction earns its place on everything except running cost:
Speed (boils ~2× faster, no burner warm-up), safety (no open flame or gas leak), instant and precise heat, no cylinder booking or refills, and a cooler, cleaner kitchen. Great as a fast second hob.
Working during power cuts, taking anycookware (induction needs a flat magnetic base), a cheaper appliance to buy, better control for tossing/charring on a flame — and usually a slightly lower running cost.
Many Indian kitchens keep both — gas as the main hob, induction for quick jobs and as a power-cut-proof backup. That's often the practical answer, not one or the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is induction cheaper to run than gas in India?
Why isn’t induction much cheaper if it’s more efficient?
How much does it cost to boil 1 litre of water — gas vs induction?
When is induction actually cheaper than gas?
Should I switch from gas to induction?
Sources & Methodology
Cost per useful kWh = unit energy price ÷ efficiency. Gas: a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder holds ~182 kWh of energy (~12.8 kWh/kg), so at ₹900 that is ~₹4.95/kWh of gas, ÷ the burner efficiency. Induction: ₹8/unit ÷ ~85% hob efficiency = ~₹9.4/useful kWh. We use a real-world ~62% burner for the base figures; the table above shows the full 55–70% range.
- LPG energy — net calorific value ~46 MJ/kg (~12.8 kWh/kg); a 14.2 kg domestic cylinder ≈ 182 kWh of chemical energy. Cylinder price ~₹900 is a typical non-subsidised market rate (subsidised/Ujjwala is lower; commercial higher; varies by city).
- Efficiency — BIS IS 4246 sets a ~68% lab minimum for marked LPG stoves, but field studies find ~50–65% in real kitchens (flame past the vessel, pot mismatch); induction hobs ~84–90%. We use 62% and 85% for the base case and show the sensitivity.
- Electricity — ₹8/unit base, matching our other running-cost pages; the tariff table shows the effect of your slab. See running cost by state.
Figures are estimates for guidance and depend on your exact cylinder price, tariff slab, burner condition, cookware and how you cook. The result is close enough that any of these can flip it — which is the real point: induction is not the clear money-saver it is often assumed to be, and gas is not the clear winner either. This page contains no product prices.
Related guides
Kitchen appliances and running costs for an Indian home.
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