Compare countries · India vs Vietnam
India vs Vietnam
Across 13 comparable indicators: India leads on 4, Vietnam 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 Vietnam?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts India at 18.9 and Vietnam at 26.4. India is about 28% cheaper overall.
Is India or Vietnam safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), India scores 2.41 and Vietnam scores 1.74. Vietnam ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, India or Vietnam?
On the UN Human Development Index, India scores 0.685 and Vietnam scores 0.766. Vietnam 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 Vietnam?
GNI per capita runs $2,760 in India against $4,970 in Vietnam; people live 72.2 years on average against 74.7; Numbeo users rate healthcare 66 against 62. 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
Vietnam
26.4
Better than 92% of countries
India: 28% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
India
4.3
Better than 96% of countries
Vietnam
9.9
Better than 76% of countries
India: 57% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
India
2.41
Worse than 78% of countries
Vietnam
1.74
Better than 75% of countries
Vietnam: more peaceful (1.74 vs 2.41).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
India
55.8
Around the global middle
Vietnam
59.9
Better than 62% of countries
Vietnam: higher perceived safety (59.9 vs 55.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
India
0.685
Worse than 68% of countries
Vietnam
0.766
Around the global middle
Vietnam: higher human development (0.766 vs 0.685).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
India
$11,748
Worse than 67% of countries
Vietnam
$18,088
Worse than 55% of countries
Vietnam: 54% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
India
72.2 yrs
Worse than 60% of countries
Vietnam
74.7 yrs
Around the global middle
Vietnam: 2.5 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
India
65.5
Better than 55% of countries
Vietnam
62.2
Worse than 56% of countries
India: better-rated healthcare (65.5 vs 62.2).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
India
62 Mbps
Worse than 64% of countries
Vietnam
289 Mbps
Better than 95% of countries
Vietnam: 368% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
India
32/100
Worse than 87% of countries
Vietnam
21/100
Worse than 97% of countries
India: freer press (32 vs 21 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
India
4.54
Worse than 78% of countries
Vietnam
6.43
Better than 69% of countries
Vietnam: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.43 vs 4.54).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
India
484
Worse than 64% of countries
Vietnam
500
Worse than 56% of countries
Vietnam: stronger English proficiency (500 vs 484).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
India
65.2
Worse than 85% of countries
Vietnam
71.1
Worse than 72% of countries
Vietnam: more pleasant climate rating (71.1 vs 65.2).
Deciding between India and Vietnam for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.