Moving to India from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to India — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to India, you would find that India is 73.7% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly ₹1,517,414 in India to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Delhi averages 88°F vs 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to India.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ₹1,517,414
To maintain the same standard of living in India
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 82.7% less
Groceries
pay 73.1% less
Transportation
pay 49.8% less
Housing
pay 89.3% less
Childcare
pay 94.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 69.8% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United States to India, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to India.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United States generally does better on safety, though India leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though India leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States generally does better on environment, though India leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
United States performs better than India across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though India leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United States performs better than India across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Washington | Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 76°/52°F (25°/11°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 101°/78°F (38°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 93°/79°F (34°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 82°/56°F (28°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.3°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 85°/60°F (29.6°/15.4°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 97°/71°F (36.0°/21.5°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 104°/79°F (39.8°/26.2°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 103°/83°F (39.4°/28.3°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 95°/81°F (35.2°/27.0°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 92°/79°F (33.6°/26.2°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 93°/76°F (34.0°/24.7°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.4°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 82°/55°F (28.0°/12.8°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 73°/47°F (22.7°/8.4°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
India Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting India
Visa Online (e-Visa)
India passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 United States?
Yes — India is on average about 79% cheaper than United States. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to India?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₹379,354 in India on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from India?
Internet is rarely the blocker — India has 2.4 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?
United States generally does better on safety, though India leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in India is 2.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in India compared to United States?
United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though India leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 7.3 doctors per 10,000 people in India, compared to 36.1 in United States. India scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in India compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Delhi is 88°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Delhi receives around 28.2 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in India?
The official languages in India are English, Hindi and Tamil. In United States, the official language is English.
