Compare countries · China vs India
China vs India
Across 13 comparable indicators: China leads on 9, India on 4. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is China cheaper than India?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts China at 30.5 and India at 18.9. India is about 38% cheaper overall.
Is China or India safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), China scores 2.23 and India scores 2.41. China ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, China or India?
On the UN Human Development Index, China scores 0.797 and India scores 0.685. China scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in China compared to India?
GNI per capita runs $14,230 in China against $2,760 in India; people live 78.0 years on average against 72.2; Numbeo users rate healthcare 69 against 66. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
China
30.5
Better than 79% of countries
India
18.9
Better than 99% of countries
India: 38% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
China
10.4
Better than 73% of countries
India
4.3
Better than 96% of countries
India: 59% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
China
2.23
Worse than 73% of countries
India
2.41
Worse than 78% of countries
China: more peaceful (2.23 vs 2.41).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
China
76.9
Better than 93% of countries
India
55.8
Around the global middle
China: higher perceived safety (76.9 vs 55.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
China
0.797
Better than 60% of countries
India
0.685
Worse than 68% of countries
China: higher human development (0.797 vs 0.685).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
China
$29,333
Better than 61% of countries
India
$11,748
Worse than 67% of countries
China: 150% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
China
78.0 yrs
Better than 71% of countries
India
72.2 yrs
Worse than 60% of countries
China: 5.8 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
China
69.2
Better than 68% of countries
India
65.5
Better than 55% of countries
China: better-rated healthcare (69.2 vs 65.5).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
China
212 Mbps
Better than 82% of countries
India
62 Mbps
Worse than 64% of countries
China: 244% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
China
14/100
Worse than 99% of countries
India
32/100
Worse than 87% of countries
India: freer press (32 vs 14 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
China
6.07
Better than 56% of countries
India
4.54
Worse than 78% of countries
China: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.07 vs 4.54).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
China
464
Worse than 74% of countries
India
484
Worse than 64% of countries
India: stronger English proficiency (484 vs 464).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
China
74.4
Worse than 63% of countries
India
65.2
Worse than 85% of countries
China: more pleasant climate rating (74.4 vs 65.2).
Deciding between China and India for real?
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.