Quick answer: In most big cities, piped gas (PNG) works out slightly cheaper than LPG cylinders for the same cooking, usually by a few hundred to about ₹1,500 a year for a family using one cylinder a month. But it isn’t true everywhere. Enter your city’s rates below to see the difference for your home.
“PNG lagwa lo, bahut sasta padta hai.” Almost everyone who has switched to piped gas says this to their neighbours. Sometimes they’re right. Sometimes the saving is so small it’s not the reason to switch at all. Comparing the two is tricky because one is sold by the cylinder and the other by the unit on a meter, so this calculator puts them on the same scale for you.
PNG vs LPG Cost Calculator
How the Calculator Compares Them
A cylinder and a meter don’t speak the same language, so the calculator converts both into the cost of the same amount of cooking.
- It takes how many LPG cylinders you use in a year and multiplies by the cylinder price. That’s your LPG cost.
- It converts each cylinder into the amount of piped gas that would give you the same heat, measured in SCM (standard cubic metres).
- It multiplies those SCM by your city’s PNG rate, and adds any fixed monthly charge you enter. That’s your PNG cost.
- The difference is your yearly saving, or extra cost.
Why 15, 17 or 19 SCM per cylinder?
LPG holds more heat per kilo than piped natural gas does per unit. A 14.2 kg cylinder holds about 14.2 × 46.1 = roughly 655 MJ of heat. Piped natural gas carries roughly 35 to 40 MJ per SCM, depending on the gas your company supplies. Divide one by the other and one cylinder works out to about 16 to 19 SCM.
Gas companies have long used a simpler rule of thumb: an average family of four uses about 15 SCM of PNG a month, roughly the same family that uses one cylinder a month. That’s why the calculator offers 15, 17 and 19. The middle option is a fair starting point, and your real answer probably falls somewhere in the range.
What the Numbers Look Like in Different Cities
Here’s the comparison for a family using one cylinder a month (12 a year), at 17 SCM per cylinder, using October 2026 rates:
| City | LPG per year | PNG per year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gurugram | ₹11,406 | ₹9,874 | PNG saves ₹1,532 |
| Kolkata | ₹11,616 | ₹10,200 | PNG saves ₹1,416 |
| Delhi | ₹11,304 | ₹10,116 | PNG saves ₹1,188 |
| Noida | ₹11,274 | ₹10,090 | PNG saves ₹1,184 |
| Chennai | ₹11,490 | ₹10,608 | PNG saves ₹882 |
| Bengaluru | ₹11,334 | ₹10,812 | PNG saves ₹522 |
| Hyderabad | ₹11,928 | ₹11,424 | PNG saves ₹504 |
| Chandigarh | ₹11,418 | ₹11,726 | LPG cheaper by ₹308 |
Two things stand out. First, the saving is real in most places but modest, around ₹40 to ₹130 a month. Second, it isn’t guaranteed: in Chandigarh, at these rates, the cylinder actually comes out a little cheaper.
What the Calculator Doesn’t Include
To keep it simple, the calculator compares running costs only. Keep these in mind too:
- The upfront deposit. A PNG connection needs a deposit, usually ₹6,000 to ₹7,000 with the big companies, most of it refundable. An LPG connection needs about ₹2,450 in most of India.
- Minimum charges. Some PNG companies charge a small amount even when you barely use gas. MGL in Mumbai, for example, lists ₹50 a month plus GST, and Torrent Gas lists ₹150 per two-month billing cycle when there’s no use. Add these in the optional box if they apply to you.
- Ujjwala subsidy. Ujjwala families get ₹300 back on each of their first four refills a year. On those refills, LPG is far cheaper than any PNG rate.
- eKYC. The LPG prices in the calculator are regulated prices. Since 1 October 2026, consumers without biometric Aadhaar authentication pay the market price, which is higher. If that’s you, LPG costs more than the calculator shows.
- Price changes. Both fuels change price. PNG rates went up several times in 2026, so re-check every few months.
Money Isn’t the Only Thing
For most families who switch, the real reason isn’t the few hundred rupees. It’s everything else:
- No booking, no 25-day gap, no waiting for delivery. Gas is simply there.
- No heavy cylinder to lift, store or change, which matters a lot in homes with elderly people.
- Pay after use, through a bill, instead of paying in advance.
- Natural gas is lighter than air, so a leak rises and disperses instead of settling near the floor like LPG.
On the other side, LPG works almost anywhere, moves with you when you shift house, and doesn’t need a pipeline at your building.
Before You Switch: The 2026 Rule
You can’t keep both. Since March 2026, a household with a PNG connection isn’t allowed to keep a domestic LPG connection. Once your PNG is running, you should apply to close your LPG connection within 30 days and take your deposit back, or take a transfer voucher if you might move somewhere without piped gas later.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is PNG cheaper than LPG?
In most big cities, slightly. For a family using a cylinder a month, the saving is usually a few hundred rupees to about ₹1,500 a year. In some cities, LPG can come out cheaper.
2. How many SCM of PNG equal one LPG cylinder?
About 15 to 19 SCM, depending on the gas quality and how you measure it. The calculator lets you try each.
3. How much PNG does a family use in a month?
Gas companies’ rule of thumb is about 15 SCM a month for a family of four.
4. What is an SCM?
A standard cubic metre, the unit your PNG meter counts. Your bill is roughly the SCM used multiplied by your rate.
5. Where do I find my city’s PNG rate?
On your PNG bill, or on your gas company’s rate card. Our PNG price page lists rates for major cities.
6. Are the city rates in the calculator up to date?
They’re October 2026 rates. Prices change, so check your latest bill or cash memo and edit the boxes if needed.
7. Does the calculator include the PNG deposit?
No. It compares running costs. The deposit is mostly refundable and is a one-time amount.
8. Should I add a minimum charge?
Only if your gas company has one. Check its rate card, and enter the monthly amount in the optional box.
9. I’m an Ujjwala beneficiary. Should I switch?
Compare carefully. With ₹300 back on four refills a year, LPG is much cheaper for you on those cylinders.
10. Why does Chandigarh show LPG as cheaper?
Because its PNG rate is among the highest on our list, while its LPG price is close to other cities.
11. Can I keep my LPG cylinder after getting PNG?
No. Under the 2026 rules, a household with PNG can’t keep a domestic LPG connection.
12. Will my bill come every month?
Most PNG companies bill every two months, based on your meter reading.
13. Does this calculator save my data?
No. It runs in your browser, and nothing is stored or sent.
Let the Numbers Decide
The “PNG is much cheaper” claim is half true. Run your own numbers above, using your actual rates and your actual cylinder count, and try both the 15 and 19 SCM options. If the saving is small, decide on convenience. If it’s large, that’s a bonus on top. Either way, you’ll be choosing with facts instead of a neighbour’s guess.