Moving to India from Nepal

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Nepal to India — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Nepal to India, you would find that India is 1.8% cheaper than Nepal overall. A NPR11,000,000 salary in Nepal would need to be roughly ₹6,750,000 in India to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Hindi and Tamil. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Delhi averages 88°F vs 77°F in Kathmandu, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is India cheaper than Nepal?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 16.7% less

Groceries

pay 15.3% less

Transportation

pay 33.5% less

Housing

pay 33.4% more

Childcare

pay 19.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 5.7% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NPR = 0.6244 INR (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in India?

What does your salary buy?

NPR11,000,000 → ₹6,750,000

To maintain the same standard of living in India

Calculate with your salary →

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Nepal to India, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
733,734 ↓ 6% vs 2015

people born in Nepal live in India · UN DESA

Who's moving to India?

Top countries of origin for India's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Nepal to India.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NP
2.1
IN
2.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NP
28.2
IN
15.4

Nepal generally does better on safety, though India leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

NP
$332
IN
$346
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

NP
10.1
IN
7.2

Nepal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though India leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NP
76.0
IN
83.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NP
0.5t
IN
2.2t

Nepal performs better than India across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NP
10.1
IN
3.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NP
8.3%
IN
66.5%

Nepal generally does better on infrastructure, though India leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NP
10.5%
IN
4.2%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NP
$1,536
IN
$2,702

India generally does better on employment & economy, though Nepal leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

NP
70.6 yrs
IN
72.2 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NP
22.2
IN
23.3

India generally does better on family life, though Nepal leads in infant mortality.

Weather in India vs Nepal

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kathmandu Rain: 56.1 in/yr (1425 mm)
77° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Delhi Rain: 28.2 in/yr (716 mm)
88° / 66°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kathmandu Delhi
Jan–Mar 69°/40°F (21°/4°C) 76°/52°F (25°/11°C)
Apr–Jun 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) 101°/78°F (38°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/67°F (28°/19°C) 93°/79°F (34°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) 82°/56°F (28°/14°C)
View all months
Month Kathmandu Delhi
Jan 64°/36°F (18.0°/2.1°C) 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C)
Feb 68°/39°F (20.2°/3.8°C) 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.3°C)
Mar 76°/46°F (24.3°/7.5°C) 85°/60°F (29.6°/15.4°C)
Apr 81°/52°F (27.4°/11.3°C) 97°/71°F (36.0°/21.5°C)
May 83°/60°F (28.2°/15.5°C) 104°/79°F (39.8°/26.2°C)
Jun 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.0°C) 103°/83°F (39.4°/28.3°C)
Jul 82°/68°F (27.7°/20.0°C) 95°/81°F (35.2°/27.0°C)
Aug 82°/67°F (28.0°/19.7°C) 92°/79°F (33.6°/26.2°C)
Sep 81°/65°F (27.2°/18.2°C) 93°/76°F (34.0°/24.7°C)
Oct 78°/55°F (25.8°/13.0°C) 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.4°C)
Nov 73°/45°F (22.7°/7.4°C) 82°/55°F (28.0°/12.8°C)
Dec 67°/37°F (19.4°/3.0°C) 73°/47°F (22.7°/8.4°C)

Data: Department of Hydrology and meteorology Department of Hydrology and meteorology, India Meteorological Department India Meteorological Department

Can you move from Nepal to India?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nepal and India. To live, work, or study long-term in India, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check India's immigration authority.

Nepal passport

Nepal passport holder visiting India

Visa Free
Nepal passport holders can enter India without a visa.
India passport

India passport holder visiting Nepal

Visa Free
India passport holders can enter Nepal without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in India than Nepal?

Costs in India and Nepal are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to India?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₹1,687,500 in India on a NPR11,000,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from India?

Internet is rarely the blocker — India has 3.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is India safe for expats?

Nepal generally does better on safety, though India leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in India is 2.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Nepal.

How is healthcare in India compared to Nepal?

Nepal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though India leads in health coverage index. There are 7.2 doctors per 10,000 people in India, compared to 10.1 in Nepal. India scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nepal: 54).

What's the weather like in India compared to Nepal?

The average high temperature in Delhi is 88°F, compared to 77°F in Kathmandu. Delhi receives around 28.2 in of rainfall per year, while Kathmandu gets 56.1 in.

What language do they speak in India?

The official languages in India are English, Hindi and Tamil. In Nepal, the official language is Nepali.

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At a Glance

NP IN
Population 29,618,118 1,463,865,525
Currency Nepalese Rupee (NPR) Indian Rupee (₹)
Languages Nepali English, Hindi, Tamil
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +977 +91
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 100 112