Induction vs Gas Stove: Which Is Cheaper in India? (2026 Cost Math)
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Induction vs gas: which is cheaper in India? The honest answer depends on one number, your electricity rate per unit.
We did the math with the IOCL cylinder price, the BIS rule for gas stoves and a real state tariff. You will also get a simple rule to check your own home.
Induction vs Gas Stove: Which Is Cheaper in India?
| Gas stove (LPG) | Induction cooktop | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay | Rs 942 per 14.2 kg cylinder (Delhi, IOCL) | Your electricity rate per unit |
| Heat that reaches the pot | At least 68% (BIS rule for new stoves) | About 85% (ENERGY STAR) |
| Cost per useful unit of heat | About Rs 7.11 | Your rate divided by 0.85 |
| Cheaper when | Power costs more than about Rs 6 a unit | Power costs less than about Rs 6 a unit |
| Works in a power cut | Yes | No |
| Cost to start | Most homes already have one | Cooktop and pans: Rs 2,500 to 4,000 (CEEW) |
Most homes pay different rates, so the rest of this guide shows the math. You can then plug in your own bill.
How Much Heat Reaches the Pot: Gas vs Induction?
The BIS standard for LPG stoves (IS 4246:2025) says "the thermal efficiency shall be minimum 68 percent for each burner of gas stove" (BIS).
Built-in hobs have a lower bar of 55 percent. The older 2002 version of the rule asked for at least 64 percent (IS 4246:2002).
For induction, ENERGY STAR says "about 85% of heating energy is transferred to what is in the cookware compared to only a third of the heating energy when using gas cooking products" (ENERGY STAR).
That "a third" is a US figure for US gas cooktops. The US Department of Energy also says "Induction appliances are up to three times more efficient than gas stoves" (US DOE).
Why this matters: Many cost guides use the US gas figure and so make induction look far cheaper than it is in India. We use the Indian BIS figure of 68 percent, which is fairer to your gas stove.
Induction vs Gas Running Cost: The Math, Step by Step
| Step | Gas stove (LPG) | Induction cooktop |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Energy you buy | 14.2 kg x 11,800 kcal = 167,560 kcal, about 195 units | 1 unit (1 kWh) from your meter |
| 2. Share that reaches the pot | 68% | About 85% |
| 3. Useful heat | 195 x 0.68 = about 132.5 units per cylinder | 0.85 useful unit per unit you pay for |
| 4. Cost per useful unit | Rs 942 / 132.5 = about Rs 7.11 | Your rate / 0.85 |
Where the numbers come from: IOCL lists a 14.2 kg Indane cylinder at Rs 942.00 in Delhi (IOCL). The Bharat Gas LPG manual gives LPG 11,800 kcal per kg (BPCL).
Our assumptions: We take 1 unit (1 kWh) as 860 kcal. We use the gross heat value of LPG, which is a little kind to gas, so the real gap may favour induction slightly more.
Induction vs Gas Cost Calculator: Your Break-Even Rate
| Cylinder price | Gas stove: induction is cheaper below | Built-in hob: induction is cheaper below |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi, Rs 942.00 | Rs 6.04 a unit | Rs 7.48 a unit |
| Mumbai, Rs 941.50 | Rs 6.04 a unit | Rs 7.47 a unit |
| Chennai, Rs 957.50 | Rs 6.14 a unit | Rs 7.60 a unit |
| Kolkata, Rs 968.00 | Rs 6.21 a unit | Rs 7.68 a unit |
| Ujjwala user in Delhi, about Rs 642 | Rs 4.12 a unit | Rs 5.10 a unit |
Where 156 comes from: to match the 132.5 useful units in a cylinder, induction needs 132.5 / 0.85, or about 156 units from your meter. A built-in hob gives only about 107 useful units, so induction needs about 126.
Ujjwala users: PIB says PMUY homes get Rs 300 off each cylinder for up to nine refills a year (PIB, January 2026). So a Delhi cylinder costs them about Rs 642 (Rs 942 minus Rs 300), and gas is hard to beat.
Monthly Cost: One Cylinder vs Induction
| Your electricity rate | Induction bill for one cylinder of cooking (156 units) | Compared with Rs 942 of gas |
|---|---|---|
| Rs 4 a unit | About Rs 624 | Induction saves about Rs 318 |
| Rs 5 a unit | About Rs 780 | Induction saves about Rs 162 |
| Rs 5.80 a unit (Karnataka homes) | About Rs 905 | Induction saves about Rs 37 |
| Rs 7 a unit | About Rs 1,092 | Gas saves about Rs 150 |
| Rs 8 a unit | About Rs 1,248 | Gas saves about Rs 306 |
The Rs 5.80 row is a real tariff. Karnataka's 2025 tariff order sets 580 paise per unit for homes (LT-1) in 2025-26 and 2026-27 (KERC).
Watch your slab, too. CEEW warns that homes that switch may be "at the risk of moving to a higher tariff slab" (CEEW study).
Want to know how many units your cooktop uses per hour? Our induction stove power consumption guide covers watts, units and bills.
What Do Studies Say About Induction vs Gas Cost?
CEEW found that at an Rs 800 cylinder, "eCooking would be operationally cheaper for households paying an electricity tariff of less than INR 6.6" per unit (CEEW).
Their cylinder price and stove figure differ from ours, so their cut-off is a little different. CEEW also notes that home power rates in India range from Rs 0 to 11.5 a unit.
The government's National Efficient Cooking Programme says it is "offering a cost advantage of 25-30% over traditional cooking methods" (PIB). Under it, EESL plans to give out 20 lakh induction stoves.
When Does Gas Win, and When Does Induction Win?
- Induction wins: your rate is below your break-even, or you cook on a built-in hob.
- Gas wins: your rate is high, or you get long power cuts.
- Flame jobs: phulka rotis, roasting brinjal and round-bottom kadhai still need a gas burner.
- Pans: induction needs flat, magnetic pans. See our guide to non-stick cookware for induction.
For a single cooktop, a common pick is the Prestige PIC 20 induction cooktop. For pans, a Butterfly triply steel cookware set (induction base) works on both gas and induction.
Not sure if you need induction or a hot plate? Read induction cooktop vs hot plate first.
Gas Stove With Induction: The Combo Setup
A simple combo is a Prestige IRIS 2-burner glass-top gas stove plus a single induction cooktop. If you want both on one top, see the Pigeon Rapido hybrid gas stove with built-in induction.
For small jobs like boiling water, a small electric cooker can save the cylinder for flame cooking. Read can an electric kettle cooker replace a gas stove.
If you make a lot of chai, our hot water dispenser running cost guide compares it with gas. If you stay with flame, here is how to clean a gas stove.
InstaCuppa Multipurpose Electric Kettle Cum Cooker (1.2 L)
For small jobs off the gas: boil water, make Maggi, or steam idli and eggs.
Shop NowFrequently Asked Questions
Is induction cheaper than gas in India?
Only if your power is cheap. With a Rs 942 cylinder and a BIS-standard stove, induction is cheaper below about Rs 6 a unit.
Is induction more expensive than gas?
It can be. Above about Rs 6 a unit, a good gas stove costs less to run than induction.
How do I work out induction vs gas cost for my home?
Divide your cylinder price by 156. If your power rate is lower than the answer, induction is cheaper.
How many units does induction need to replace one LPG cylinder?
About 156 units, by our math. That assumes a gas stove at 68% and induction at 85%.
Is induction cheaper for Ujjwala (PMUY) users?
Usually not. With Rs 300 off, a Delhi cylinder costs about Rs 642, so power must cost under about Rs 4.12 a unit.
Can I use a gas stove and induction together?
Yes. Many homes keep both and use the cheaper one for each job.
Does induction work in a power cut?
No. It needs power, so keep your gas stove if you get long power cuts.
Do I need new vessels for induction?
Yes, if your pans are not magnetic. A fridge magnet should stick to the base of the pan.
How much does it cost to start cooking on induction?
CEEW puts a cooktop plus pans at Rs 2,500 to 4,000. Prices change, so check current listings.
Sources & References
- Indane cooking gas: prices in metros (Rs per 14.2 kg cylinder, last updated 7 June 2026) - Indian Oil Corporation
- IS 4246:2025 Domestic gas stoves for use with LPG: test parameters - Bureau of Indian Standards
- IS 4246:2002 Domestic gas stoves for use with LPG: specification - Bureau of Indian Standards
- Electric cooking products - ENERGY STAR (US EPA)
- Making the switch to induction stoves or cooktops - US Department of Energy
- LPG gas manual (calorific values, Table 2) - Bharat Petroleum (Bharat Gas)
- KERC Tariff Order 2025, Annexure-9: tariff schedule LT-1 - Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission, via BESCOM
- Are Indian homes ready for electric cooking? - Council on Energy, Environment and Water
- Clean electric cooking transition in Indian homes (study PDF) - Council on Energy, Environment and Water
- India's expanding role in the global energy transition (27 January 2026) - Press Information Bureau
- EESL energy-efficient fans and induction cookstoves programme - Press Information Bureau
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