Compare countries · India vs Pakistan
India vs Pakistan
Across 13 comparable indicators: India leads on 7, Pakistan on 4, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is India cheaper than Pakistan?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts India at 18.9 and Pakistan at 19.6. India is about 4% cheaper overall.
Is India or Pakistan safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), India scores 2.41 and Pakistan scores 2.92. India ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, India or Pakistan?
On the UN Human Development Index, India scores 0.685 and Pakistan scores 0.544. 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 Pakistan?
GNI per capita runs $2,760 in India against $1,500 in Pakistan; people live 72.2 years on average against 67.8; Numbeo users rate healthcare 66 against 60. 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
Pakistan
19.6
Better than 99% of countries
India: 4% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
India
4.3
Better than 96% of countries
Pakistan
3.4
Better than 98% of countries
Pakistan: 21% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
India
2.41
Worse than 78% of countries
Pakistan
2.92
Worse than 93% of countries
India: more peaceful (2.41 vs 2.92).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
India
55.8
Around the global middle
Pakistan
57.6
Better than 57% of countries
Pakistan: higher perceived safety (57.6 vs 55.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
India
0.685
Worse than 68% of countries
Pakistan
0.544
Worse than 87% of countries
India: higher human development (0.685 vs 0.544).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
India
$11,748
Worse than 67% of countries
Pakistan
$6,573
Worse than 78% of countries
India: 79% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
India
72.2 yrs
Worse than 60% of countries
Pakistan
67.8 yrs
Worse than 76% of countries
India: 4.4 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
India
65.5
Better than 55% of countries
Pakistan
59.5
Worse than 62% of countries
India: better-rated healthcare (65.5 vs 59.5).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
India
62 Mbps
Worse than 64% of countries
Pakistan
18 Mbps
Worse than 93% of countries
India: 243% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
India
32/100
Worse than 87% of countries
Pakistan
33/100
Worse than 85% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
India
4.54
Worse than 78% of countries
Pakistan
4.87
Worse than 71% of countries
Pakistan: happier on the Cantril ladder (4.87 vs 4.54).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
India
484
Worse than 64% of countries
Pakistan
493
Worse than 59% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
India
65.2
Worse than 85% of countries
Pakistan
67.1
Worse than 83% of countries
Pakistan: more pleasant climate rating (67.1 vs 65.2).
Deciding between India and Pakistan 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.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.