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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Can you afford New Delhi on a ₹3L salary? Rent would be 88% of gross monthly income — above the recommended 30% threshold. Budget breakdown vs Delhi peers below.
Can you afford New Delhi on a ₹3L salary? Rent would be 88% of gross monthly income — above the recommended 30% threshold. Budget breakdown vs Delhi peers below.
New Delhi: cost index 128 (+35 vs national avg 93), rent ₹22,000/month.
Delhi region average cost index: 93. New Delhi is +35 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 46/100 — safety 42, healthcare 80, walkability 55.
Safety score: 42/100 (crime rate 72.5/1k). National average: 62/100.
On a ₹3L salary, rent in New Delhi is 88% of gross monthly income — above the 30% rule.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Delhi | 128 | ₹22,000 | ₹6,80,000 |
| 2 | Raipur | 68 | ₹7,000 | ₹3,40,000 |
| 3 | Patna | 68 | ₹7,500 | ₹3,20,000 |
| 4 | Ranchi | 70 | ₹7,500 | ₹3,50,000 |
| 5 | Bhubaneswar | 72 | ₹8,000 | ₹3,60,000 |
| 6 | Bhopal | 72 | ₹8,500 | ₹3,60,000 |
| 7 | Indore | 75 | ₹9,000 | ₹3,80,000 |
| 8 | Guwahati | 75 | ₹9,000 | ₹3,80,000 |
| 9 | Nagpur | 78 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,20,000 |
| 10 | Coimbatore | 82 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,20,000 |
| 11 | Surat | 82 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,50,000 |
| 12 | Thiruvananthapuram | 88 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,40,000 |
| 13 | Visakhapatnam | 82 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,20,000 |
| 14 | Dehradun | 82 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,20,000 |
| 15 | Lucknow | 78 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,00,000 |
| 16 | Jaipur | 85 | ₹11,000 | ₹4,20,000 |
| 17 | Kolkata | 88 | ₹12,000 | ₹4,50,000 |
| 18 | Ahmedabad | 88 | ₹12,000 | ₹4,80,000 |
| 19 | Kochi | 95 | ₹12,000 | ₹4,80,000 |
| 20 | Chandigarh | 98 | ₹14,000 | ₹5,20,000 |
Here's what the headline numbers don't tell you: New Delhi has a cost index of 128 — 35 points above the India national average of 93. Median income is ₹6,80,000 with rent at ₹22,000/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 39%. This combination is rare — and valuable.
Pair that with the housing data, and the pattern sharpens. looking at Delhi as a whole, the spread across all 28 cities is 14 points on the cost index. Mumbai sits at the other end with index 142 and rent of ₹35,000/mo. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, New Delhi scores a composite score of 46/100 — reflecting its safety (42), healthcare (80), and walkability (55) metrics. And here's the trade-off: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and India is a good example of that tension.
New Delhi — cost index 128, rent ₹22,000/mo, income ₹6,80,000, QoL 46/100.
Raipur — cost index 68, rent ₹7,000/mo, income ₹3,40,000, QoL 59/100.
Patna — cost index 68, rent ₹7,500/mo, income ₹3,20,000, QoL 51/100.
Ranchi — cost index 70, rent ₹7,500/mo, income ₹3,50,000, QoL 59/100.
Bhubaneswar — cost index 72, rent ₹8,000/mo, income ₹3,60,000, QoL 63/100.
New Delhi has a cost index of 128 (national avg: 93), rent ₹22,000/mo, median income ₹6,80,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 46/100.
In New Delhi, rent would be about 88% of your gross monthly income on ₹3L. Consider cost-cutting measures or a roommate.
The Delhi region of average QoL score is 57/100. New Delhi leads with 46/100, reflecting safety, healthcare access, walkability, and green space.
Our index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Sub-categories cover housing, food, transport, utilities, and healthcare. Data sources include MoSPI CPI, RBI, NHB RESIDEX, PLFS.
New Delhi: cost index 128, rent ₹22,000/mo, income ₹6,80,000/yr, QoL 46/100. Raipur: cost index 68, rent ₹7,000/mo, income ₹3,40,000/yr, QoL 59/100.
This analysis uses data from MoSPI CPI, RBI, NHB RESIDEX, PLFS to rank cities in India. The cost of living index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Quality of life scores combine safety, healthcare, walkability, air quality, green space, and transit metrics. Salary ranges use national occupation data adjusted for local cost differences. Data is updated regularly to reflect current market conditions.