“In metro advertising, costs vary by city, but the value comes from the sheer volume of eyeballs your brand captures daily.”
Metro advertising is one of the fastest-growing Out-of-Home (OOH) formats in India. With metro networks expanding across major cities, advertisers are increasingly investing in station branding, train wraps, and digital screens to reach millions of commuters. However, costs differ significantly depending on the city, footfall, and ad format. Here’s a comparative breakdown:
1. Delhi Metro Advertising Costs
- India’s largest metro network with daily ridership of 5–6 million.
- Cost Range:
- Panels & posters: ₹25,000 – ₹60,000/month (per panel).
- Train wraps: ₹8 – ₹12 lakh/month (per train).
- Station domination: ₹10 – ₹25 lakh/month (depending on location).
- Why Higher: Delhi Metro offers massive reach, diverse audience, and premium placements across NCR.
2. Mumbai Metro Advertising Costs
- Covers India’s financial capital, connecting premium commercial zones.
- Daily ridership: ~3–4 lakh (expected to grow with new lines).
- Cost Range:
- Digital screens: ₹35,000 – ₹80,000/month (per screen).
- Train wraps: ₹6 – ₹10 lakh/month.
- Station branding: ₹8 – ₹18 lakh/month (location-dependent).
- Why Premium: Targets corporate professionals, high-spenders, and luxury consumers.
3. Bengaluru Metro (Namma Metro) Advertising Costs
- Popular with tech-savvy and young professionals.
- Daily ridership: 6–7 lakh.
- Cost Range:
- Panels: ₹20,000 – ₹50,000/month.
- Train wraps: ₹5 – ₹9 lakh/month.
- Station branding: ₹6 – ₹12 lakh/month.
- Why Moderate: Ideal for IT brands, ed-tech, food delivery, fintech, and startups targeting millennials.
4. Hyderabad Metro Advertising Costs
- One of India’s longest metro networks (69 km).
- Daily ridership: 4–5 lakh.
- Cost Range:
- Digital screens: ₹25,000 – ₹60,000/month.
- Train wraps: ₹4 – ₹8 lakh/month.
- Station branding: ₹5 – ₹10 lakh/month.
- Why Cost-Effective: Rapidly growing metro with business hubs + residential connectivity.
5. Kolkata Metro Advertising Costs
- India’s oldest metro, expanding with East–West corridor.
- Daily ridership: 6–7 lakh.
- Cost Range:
- Panels: ₹15,000 – ₹40,000/month.
- Train branding: ₹4 – ₹7 lakh/month.
- Station domination: ₹5 – ₹10 lakh/month.
- Why Affordable: High visibility but relatively lower costs than Delhi/Mumbai.
6. Chennai Metro Advertising Costs
- Modern metro connecting IT corridors & residential areas.
- Daily ridership: ~2.5 lakh (increasing).
- Cost Range:
- Panels: ₹18,000 – ₹35,000/month.
- Train wraps: ₹3 – ₹6 lakh/month.
- Station branding: ₹4 – ₹8 lakh/month.
- Why Value-Friendly: Lower ridership but premium audience mix.
7. Emerging Metros (Lucknow, Pune, Nagpur, Kochi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad)
- Daily ridership: 50,000 – 2 lakh (depending on city & line).
- Cost Range:
- Panels: ₹10,000 – ₹25,000/month.
- Train wraps: ₹2 – ₹5 lakh/month.
- Station branding: ₹3 – ₹6 lakh/month.
- Why Attractive: Lower costs + regional targeting opportunities for local businesses.
Key Factors Affecting Metro Ad Costs
- Ridership Volume – Higher commuters = higher ad rates.
- Location – Busy interchange stations cost more than smaller stops.
- Ad Format – Train wraps and digital screens cost more than static panels.
- Duration of Campaign – Long-term bookings often get discounts.
- City Tier – Metro advertising in Tier-1 cities is more premium than Tier-2.
✅ Final Takeaway
- Delhi & Mumbai = Premium metro advertising hubs with the highest costs.
- Bengaluru & Hyderabad = Balanced cost with strong urban audience reach.
- Kolkata & Chennai = Affordable with good visibility.
- Emerging Metros = Cost-effective, hyperlocal branding opportunities.
For brands, the choice depends on whether they want nationwide reach (Delhi/Mumbai) or targeted engagement at lower cost (emerging metros).