Compare countries · India vs Nepal
India vs Nepal
Across 12 comparable indicators: India leads on 5, Nepal on 7. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is India cheaper than Nepal?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts India at 18.9 and Nepal at 22.6. India is about 16% cheaper overall.
Is India or Nepal safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), India scores 2.41 and Nepal scores 2.14. Nepal ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, India or Nepal?
On the UN Human Development Index, India scores 0.685 and Nepal scores 0.622. India 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 India compared to Nepal?
GNI per capita runs $2,760 in India against $1,570 in Nepal; people live 72.2 years on average against 70.6; Numbeo users rate healthcare 66 against 58. 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)
India
18.9
Better than 99% of countries
Nepal
22.6
Better than 96% of countries
India: 16% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
India
4.3
Better than 96% of countries
Nepal
2.9
Better than 99% of countries
Nepal: 33% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
India
2.41
Worse than 78% of countries
Nepal
2.14
Worse than 68% of countries
Nepal: more peaceful (2.14 vs 2.41).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
India
55.8
Around the global middle
Nepal
63.9
Better than 70% of countries
Nepal: higher perceived safety (63.9 vs 55.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
India
0.685
Worse than 68% of countries
Nepal
0.622
Worse than 75% of countries
India: higher human development (0.685 vs 0.622).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
India
$11,748
Worse than 67% of countries
Nepal
$6,175
Worse than 79% of countries
India: 90% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
India
72.2 yrs
Worse than 60% of countries
Nepal
70.6 yrs
Worse than 67% of countries
India: 1.6 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
India
65.5
Better than 55% of countries
Nepal
57.9
Worse than 70% of countries
India: better-rated healthcare (65.5 vs 57.9).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
India
62 Mbps
Worse than 64% of countries
Nepal
85 Mbps
Worse than 58% of countries
Nepal: 37% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
India
32/100
Worse than 87% of countries
Nepal
55/100
Around the global middle
Nepal: freer press (55 vs 32 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
India
4.54
Worse than 78% of countries
Nepal
5.15
Worse than 67% of countries
Nepal: happier on the Cantril ladder (5.15 vs 4.54).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
India
484
Worse than 64% of countries
Nepal
514
Around the global middle
Nepal: stronger English proficiency (514 vs 484).
Not comparable for this pair
- Climate pleasantness: Numbeo doesn't publish a climate index for one of these countries.
Deciding between India and Nepal for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full India profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Nepal profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.