India🇮🇳
At a Glance
How India compares across key indices
Cost of Living
18 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
56/100
Healthcare
66/100
Quality of Life
123/200
Climate
65/100
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in India
Cost of Living
18
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
4
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
21
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
14
100 = NYC dining
City Costs Comparison
Asansol
Cheapest$176/mo
Daman
$192/mo
Bhagalpur
$315/mo
Gulbarga
$329/mo
Shimla
$335/mo
Varanasi
$356/mo
Akola
$364/mo
Jammu
$372/mo
Safety & Crime
Moderate RiskHow safe residents feel in India — based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
56/100
Crime Index
44/100
Lower is better
Crime Trend
57/100
Mixed perception
Walking Safety
22 point drop from day to night
Problem Severity
0 = no problem, 100 = severe problem
What Residents Worry About
Based on 8,375 survey responses. 0 = not worried, 100 = very worried.
Cities in India
India has 57 cities with Numbeo data. Monthly costs for a single person range from $176 in Asansol to $1,039 in Mumbai. Mangalore leads on safety, scoring 74/100. Hyderabad ranks highest for quality of life at 179/200.
Asansol
$176/mo
Mangalore
74/100
Hyderabad
179/200
Jaipur
73/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asansol | $176 | — | — | — | — |
| Daman | $192 | — | — | — | — |
| Bhagalpur | $315 | — | — | — | — |
| Gulbarga | $329 | — | — | — | — |
| Shimla | $335 | — | — | — | 49 |
| Varanasi | $356 | — | — | — | 87 |
| Akola | $364 | — | — | — | — |
| Jammu | $372 | — | — | — | 66 |
| Amritsar | $375 | — | — | — | 84 |
| Allahabad | $380 | — | — | — | 89 |
| Erode | $389 | — | — | — | — |
| Patna | $389 | — | — | — | 89 |
| Kanpur | $392 | — | — | — | 89 |
| Rajkot | $398 | — | — | — | 60 |
| Belgaum | $400 | — | — | — | 73 |
| Guwahati | $412 | — | — | — | 76 |
| Coimbatore | $416 | 62/100 | 135/200 | 69/100 | 64 |
| Ranchi | $418 | — | — | — | 62 |
| Lucknow (Lakhnau) | $422 | 55/100 | — | — | 78 |
| Raipur | $424 | — | — | — | 87 |
| Faridabad | $425 | — | — | — | 95 |
| Meerut | $428 | — | — | — | 82 |
| Visakhapatnam | $436 | — | — | — | 66 |
| Nanded | $436 | — | — | — | — |
| Vijayawada | $439 | — | — | — | 71 |
| Jamshedpur | $444 | — | — | — | 56 |
| Bhopal | $444 | — | — | — | 57 |
| Indore | $449 | 52/100 | — | — | 60 |
| Jalandhar | $451 | — | — | — | 81 |
| Ghaziabad | $455 | 42/100 | — | — | 92 |
| Agra | $458 | — | — | — | — |
| Mysore | $460 | — | — | — | 59 |
| Aurangabad | $461 | — | — | — | — |
| Jaipur | $465 | 64/100 | 142/200 | 73/100 | 61 |
| Kolkata | $471 | 53/100 | 108/200 | 60/100 | 78 |
| Bhubaneswar | $472 | — | — | — | 48 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | $478 | 61/100 | 123/200 | 63/100 | 56 |
| Vadodara | $482 | 70/100 | — | — | 64 |
| Mangalore | $486 | 74/100 | 146/200 | 62/100 | 50 |
| Chandigarh | $488 | 58/100 | — | — | 51 |
| Ludhiana | $497 | — | — | — | 87 |
| Kochi | $497 | — | — | — | 71 |
| Ahmedabad | $501 | 69/100 | 129/200 | 68/100 | 72 |
| Chennai | $505 | 60/100 | 139/200 | 70/100 | 74 |
| Goa | $507 | — | — | — | 51 |
| Dehradun | $510 | — | — | — | 69 |
| Surat | $524 | 67/100 | — | — | 56 |
| Noida | $545 | 44/100 | 124/200 | 68/100 | 91 |
| Hyderabad | $563 | 57/100 | 179/200 | 66/100 | 76 |
| Nagpur | $588 | — | — | — | 61 |
| Thane | $590 | — | — | — | 63 |
| Pune | $613 | 59/100 | 164/200 | 66/100 | 71 |
| Delhi | $630 | 41/100 | 86/200 | 66/100 | 90 |
| Navi Mumbai | $633 | 63/100 | — | — | 59 |
| Bangalore | $665 | 46/100 | 133/200 | 65/100 | 83 |
| Gurgaon | $697 | 46/100 | 113/200 | 65/100 | 91 |
| Mumbai | $1,039 | 56/100 | 89/200 | 66/100 | 83 |
Data from Numbeo. Monthly cost estimates are for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for India
Healthcare Index
66/100
Quality Breakdown
How satisfied residents are with healthcare costs relative to quality
Based on 2,932 survey responses
Insurance Coverage
Recommended PartnerDon't skip health insurance
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Environment
PollutedAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in India
Pollution Index
73/100
Lower is better
Environmental Quality
Concerns
0 = no concern, 100 = severe concern
Based on 9,327 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Transport & Commute
How people get around in India
Average One-Way Commute
47minutes
Long
Traffic Index
205
Heavy congestion
Inefficiency
246
Time wasted in traffic
CO2 Emissions
6.0kg/trip
How People Commute
Based on 2,713 survey responses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in India, answered with data
What is the cost of living in India?
India has a cost of living index of 18 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $176 in Asansol and reach $1,039 in Mumbai.
What is the cheapest city in India for expats?
Asansol is the most affordable city in India with Numbeo data, with estimated monthly costs of $176 for a single person including rent. Daman is the next most affordable at $192/mo.
Is India safe for expats?
India has a safety index of 56/100, making it generally safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Mangalore scores highest on safety at 74/100.
What is the best city in India for expats and digital nomads?
Hyderabad ranks highest for quality of life in India, scoring 179/200 on Numbeo's quality of life index. Monthly costs there run around $563/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Asansol offers the lowest monthly costs at $176/mo.
How good is healthcare in India?
India scores 66/100 on Numbeo's healthcare index, making it good by global standards. This index reflects the overall quality of the healthcare system, medical staff, and facilities.
Is India cheaper than the United States?
Yes. India's cost of living is roughly 82% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 96% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
What is the air quality and pollution like in India?
India has a pollution index of 73/100 (lower = cleaner). Pollution can be a concern in urban areas. Research specific cities before committing, as rural and coastal areas typically fare better.
Before You Go
Your pre-departure checklist for India
Plan Your Move
Escape Plan Quiz
Find your best-fit country based on budget, climate, safety, and lifestyle priorities.
Salary Calculator
See what your income is actually worth after taxes and cost of living adjustments.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
90-Day Move Planner
Your personalized countdown checklist — visas, banking, housing, and logistics.
Recommended PartnerDon't skip health insurance
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Set Up International Banking
Get a multi-currency account before you leave. Essential for managing money abroad.
Get Connected
eSIM, VPN, and reliable internet — sorted before you land.
Book Your First Accommodation
Secure at least your first week. Having a home base makes everything else easier.
Find Flights
Find the cheapest flights with flexible date search. Set alerts for price drops on your route.
Freedom Abroad helps you figure out the part nobody talks about: how to actually build a life in another country. Films, tools, and data. No fluff.
Learn about our mission