Compare countries · India vs United States
India vs United States
India(Asia)·
United States(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: India leads on 3, United States on 9. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is India cheaper than United States?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts India at 18.9 and United States at 68.8. India is about 73% cheaper overall.
Which has the higher quality of life, India or United States?
On the UN Human Development Index, India scores 0.644 and United States scores 0.927. United States 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 United States?
GNI per capita runs $2,760 in India against $88,810 in United States; people live 72.2 years on average against 78.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 66 against 67. 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
United States
68.8
Worse than 90% of countries
India: 73% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
India
4.3
Better than 96% of countries
United States
40.7
Worse than 95% of countries
India: 89% cheaper rents.
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
India
55.8
Around the global middle
United States
50.8
Worse than 63% of countries
India: higher perceived safety (55.8 vs 50.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
India
0.644
Worse than 69% of countries
United States
0.927
Better than 90% of countries
United States: higher human development (0.927 vs 0.644).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
India
$11,748
Worse than 67% of countries
United States
$90,027
Better than 95% of countries
United States: 666% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
India
72.2 yrs
Worse than 60% of countries
United States
78.9 yrs
Better than 75% of countries
United States: 6.7 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
India
65.5
Better than 55% of countries
United States
67.0
Better than 59% of countries
United States: better-rated healthcare (67.0 vs 65.5).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
India
62 Mbps
Worse than 64% of countries
United States
308 Mbps
Better than 96% of countries
United States: 400% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
India
32/100
Worse than 87% of countries
United States
63/100
Better than 64% of countries
United States: freer press (63 vs 32 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
India
4.54
Worse than 78% of countries
United States
6.82
Better than 85% of countries
United States: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.82 vs 4.54).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
India
484
Worse than 64% of countries
United States
700
Better than 94% of countries
United States: stronger English proficiency (700 vs 484).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
India
65.2
Worse than 85% of countries
United States
75.8
Worse than 60% of countries
United States: more pleasant climate rating (75.8 vs 65.2).
Not comparable for this pair
- Peace — Global Peace Index: The Global Peace Index doesn't cover one of these countries.
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