Compare countries · India vs Sri Lanka
India vs Sri Lanka
Across 13 comparable indicators: India leads on 4, Sri Lanka on 7, 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 Sri Lanka?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts India at 18.9 and Sri Lanka at 33.9. India is about 44% cheaper overall.
Is India or Sri Lanka safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), India scores 2.41 and Sri Lanka scores 1.91. Sri Lanka ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, India or Sri Lanka?
On the UN Human Development Index, India scores 0.685 and Sri Lanka scores 0.776. Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka?
GNI per capita runs $2,760 in India against $4,670 in Sri Lanka; people live 72.2 years on average against 77.7; Numbeo users rate healthcare 66 against 71. 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
Sri Lanka
33.9
Better than 72% of countries
India: 44% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
India
4.3
Better than 96% of countries
Sri Lanka
7.2
Better than 91% of countries
India: 40% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
India
2.41
Worse than 78% of countries
Sri Lanka
1.91
Better than 59% of countries
Sri Lanka: more peaceful (1.91 vs 2.41).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
India
55.8
Around the global middle
Sri Lanka
57.6
Better than 57% of countries
Sri Lanka: higher perceived safety (57.6 vs 55.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
India
0.685
Worse than 68% of countries
Sri Lanka
0.776
Around the global middle
Sri Lanka: higher human development (0.776 vs 0.685).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
India
$11,748
Worse than 67% of countries
Sri Lanka
$17,065
Worse than 56% of countries
Sri Lanka: 45% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
India
72.2 yrs
Worse than 60% of countries
Sri Lanka
77.7 yrs
Better than 67% of countries
Sri Lanka: 5.5 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
India
65.5
Better than 55% of countries
Sri Lanka
70.7
Better than 69% of countries
Sri Lanka: better-rated healthcare (70.7 vs 65.5).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
India
62 Mbps
Worse than 64% of countries
Sri Lanka
37 Mbps
Worse than 81% of countries
India: 67% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
India
32/100
Worse than 87% of countries
Sri Lanka
41/100
Worse than 75% of countries
Sri Lanka: freer press (41 vs 32 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
India
4.54
Worse than 78% of countries
Sri Lanka
4.01
Worse than 91% of countries
India: happier on the Cantril ladder (4.54 vs 4.01).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
India
484
Worse than 64% of countries
Sri Lanka
486
Worse than 64% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
India
65.2
Worse than 85% of countries
Sri Lanka
64.1
Worse than 88% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Deciding between India and Sri Lanka for real?
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