Is India a Good Place to Live in 2025? Pros, Cons & Real Experiences

Ask two people if India is a good place to live, and you’ll get wildly different answers. One will go on about the chaos, the traffic, the bureaucracy that somehow makes a trip to the bank feel like running a marathon. The other person? She’ll rave about art that bursts with color, food that explodes with flavor, landscapes that stretch from icy Himalayas to palm-studded beaches, and neighbors who treat you like family. There’s no easy answer here—living in India isn’t just an address, it’s an experience that shapes you. And if you’re weighing a move (or just curious about what day-to-day life feels like for 1.4 billion people) buckle up. India’s never boring, that’s for sure.

Daily Life in India: The Ups, the Downs, and the Surprises

Step outside in any Indian city, and your senses go into overdrive. Streets pulse with honking rickshaws, bikes, cows, and bursts of people haggling for the best price on bananas or marigold garlands. Yes, India’s loud—sometimes hilariously so—but that’s the soundtrack to a culture built on community. Craving street food? You’ll run into chaat carts, samosa stalls, or tea sellers at every corner. And the prices? Breakfast for under ₹50 ($0.60) isn’t a myth. The cost of living can feel shockingly low compared to most Western countries. A single person in Kolkata or Jaipur might get by comfortably on ₹20,000 ($240) a month, but that totally flips in places like Mumbai or New Delhi, where rent alone can easily eat up half your salary if you want a modern, centrally-located place.

Outsiders are often struck by the gap between rich and poor, though. It’s hard to ignore—the luxury apartment complex next to a slum cluster is a real thing. There’s also a divide between old and new; one person’s morning might begin with yoga and lemon tea, while their neighbor starts with WhatsApp pinging work orders. If you’re raising kids, you’ll notice the difference between international schools with sky-high tuition and state-run schools where kids might sit nine to a bench. Education’s a big deal for most families, and some spend more on private lessons than rent. Navigating all this can feel overwhelming at first, but you learn quickly—it’s instinctive here.

Let’s talk about the internet. India is the world’s second largest online market, and data is dirt cheap. In 2025, you’ll have blazing-fast 5G even in some villages, but don’t expect perfect power supply everywhere—blackouts still happen. If you need coffee shops with Wi-Fi or quick grocery delivery, that’s easy in big cities. But try finding oat milk or decent cheese in a small town, and you might be hunting for weeks, or paying twice the price.

Healthcare is a mixed bag. Big private hospitals in metro cities look like hotels and offer world-class care (at a fraction of US costs). But in rural India, hospitals might be spread thin, and public ones can get crowded. Many Indians use both: the government hospital for affordable basics, and private clinics for anything serious. Pharmacies are everywhere, and medicine is usually much cheaper, but if you have chronic health problems, double-check what’s available before moving. As for safety, urban India sees petty crime (think phone snatching) and the usual hassles that come with dense populations, yet violent crime rates are lower than some major Western cities.

Nothing unites India like festivals. Holi, Diwali, Eid, Christmas—good luck escaping them, even if you aren’t invited. Neighbors parade through the streets, weddings go on for days, and the whole country seems to celebrate each passing month. It’s exhausting, but also addictive.

Work, Money, and the Rhythm of Opportunity

People say "India is a land of contradictions" for a reason. The job market is a mixed bag—teeming with potential for techies, business minds, startups, designers, and folks who want to teach English or work remotely. In 2024, India became the world’s most populous country, and now its workforce outnumbers even China’s. When it comes to jobs, having skills matters more than where you’re from, but connections ("jugaad") often open doors. In fields like IT, finance, or digital marketing, salaries for skilled workers keep rising. Pay for engineers in Bengaluru or Hyderabad can rival what you find in Eastern Europe or Latin America, but jobs in many sectors still pay less than global averages.

India’s startup scene exploded since 2020, putting the country third—behind only the US and China—in total unicorns (private firms worth over $1 billion). If you’re young, ambitious, and flexible, opportunity abounds. On the flip side, competition is fierce; India churns out more engineers and MBA grads every year than some countries have people. So, expect hustle, grind, and often, a side hustle or gig work to supplement your main income. Freelancers and remote workers will find an easy, affordable base here—digital nomads in Goa, work-from-hills-types in Himachal or Uttarakhand, and entrepreneurs in co-working spaces everywhere.

If you’re moving for business, know that Indian bureaucracy might test your patience. Getting a bank account or renting an apartment can involve more paperwork than a UN treaty. But if you have help—maybe a good local friend or reliable real estate agent—it gets much smoother. People here love networking. Business culture leans toward face-to-face meetings, and WhatsApp has replaced email for most quick decisions. English is widely spoken in urban workplaces, especially in the knowledge sector, though regional languages still rule the day-to-day outside office buildings.

Here’s a quick look at average monthly costs in Indian metros, using data from Numbeo and Housing.com:

The numbers look tempting, especially compared to New York, London, or even Bangkok, but remember, salaries for similar jobs can vary wildly. Private health insurance is a smart add-on for expats and middle-class Indians alike—it’s affordable and can be a huge relief in a crunch.

Public transport is a mixed bag. Cities like Delhi and Mumbai boast sleek new metro systems, and Uber or Ola cabs are just a tap away. But jump into city buses, and you might face crowds (and a few goats). If you drive, traffic is a lesson in patience—and horn usage is basically a language. For long trips, trains are legendary for adventure, but high-speed rail is now swiftly connecting more cities.

People here often prioritize family over everything. Multi-generational homes are the norm, not the exception. So, if you come with kids or elderly parents, it won’t feel odd. It’s easy to find good domestic help at prices unheard of in the West. Cooks, nannies, and drivers literally transform daily life, especially for working parents.

If you love variety, you’ll be spoiled. Every state flaunts its own cuisine, clothing, language, and traditions. In Kerala, you might start your day with appam and stew, while in Punjab it’s chole-bhature. Food delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy are everywhere, so even in small towns, you can order biryani or sushi for dinner.

But yes, day-to-day life comes with curveballs. Infrastructure struggles to keep up with urban growth, and even posh neighborhoods might grapple with patchy water supply or potholes. Air pollution spikes every winter in North India—schools in Delhi once shut down for a week due to thick smog. In some places, filtered taps and air purifiers are as important as electricity.

Quality of Life, Culture, and Finding Your Tribe

So what’s it really like living here as a local or foreigner? The answer depends on where you are, who you are, and how willing you are to adapt. India isn’t subtle. Diversity explodes everywhere: languages, faiths, dress, skin tones, politics. Some neighborhoods are ultra-modern, others feel like time travel. People ask personal questions within five minutes, and small talk almost always includes, "Have you eaten?" Southern India feels calm and orderly compared to the north, where energy is dialed up to 11.

Most people think of Is India good to live as a city-vs-country question. But the real magic is in movement. Hop on a train, and one day you’re in Mumbai, where Bollywood dreams chase tech jobs and fashionistas. Next week you could be in Goa, slow mornings and palm trees. Many middle-class families now take cheap flights for weekend getaways, and Indian passport strength is improving. Travel is part of life.

You are almost never alone in India, which is comforting (and sometimes claustrophobic). Strangers will help you navigate an address, feed you during festivals, or befriend you in a heartbeat. Expats find social circles through coworking offices, hobby clubs, or the ever-growing events scene—think food walks, music gigs, stand-up shows. Foreigners and long-term visitors say the biggest lesson India teaches is resilience—and an openness to everyday surprises.

For women, reality is layered. Many Indian cities are safer than global averages for violent crime, but street harassment and gawking exist, especially in smaller cities. Dress codes vary—a tank top in Mumbai or Bangalore won’t get a second glance, but in rural Rajasthan, traditional wear is the go-to. If you have kids, they’ll probably learn to speak two or three languages before kindergarten. Medical care for parents and elders is affordable, and the culture values aging as much as youth—a rarity globally.

Climate is another curveball. The summers in North India can roast you at 45°C (113°F), while hill stations chill you at 8°C (46°F). Monsoon rains flood Mumbai but turn Kerala into a lush green paradise. Air quality apps are as common as weather apps—if you have allergies or asthma, check before moving.

If you want comfort—filtered water, granite countertops, AC in every room—you can have that, but it will cost extra. Housekeeping is part of middle-class life, but elevators go out, and power cuts can spoil a week’s groceries in minutes. Many foreigners see these quirks as adventure. Others, not so much.

Your dollar, euro, or pound goes much further here than the West. Eating out, streaming apps, personal trainers, and house calls by doctors are affordable splurges. Movie tickets cost a fraction what they do in the US. But imported stuff—booze, Nutella, fancy gadgets? Expect sticker shock.

People living in India say the sense of belonging outweighs many hassles. The feeling of being part of something ancient, sprawling, and deeply human is hard to explain if you haven’t felt it. It’s unfinished and sometimes unfair, but it’s also unbelievably alive.

TIPS FOR THRIVING IN INDIA:

• Visit first. What you see on YouTube vlogs or Instagram just scratches the surface. Stay at least a month. Try different cities.
• Make local friends early. They’ll save you months of confusion, introduce you to the best food, and help with paperwork.
• Learn some Hindi or the regional language. You don't need to be fluent, but a few words open many doors.
• Get a good air purifier if you’re in North India—especially if you have kids or respiratory issues.
• Invest in a reliable health insurance policy. Check what’s covered (emergencies, chronic conditions, maternity).
• Be patient with systems. Everything works, eventually—but rarely in a straight line.
• Embrace the festivals and food. You might gain a kilo or two but you’ll make lifelong friends.

So, is India a good place to live? For millions, the answer is a loud, messy, colorful yes—even on the tough days. If you’re willing to adapt, laugh at the chaos, connect with people, and find beauty in imperfections, India’s waiting with more possibilities than you can imagine.