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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
New Delhi vs Surat in 2026: cost index 128 vs 82, rent ₹22,000 vs ₹10,000, income ₹6,80,000 vs ₹4,50,000, QoL 46 vs 59.
New Delhi vs Surat in 2026: cost index 128 vs 82, rent ₹22,000 vs ₹10,000, income ₹6,80,000 vs ₹4,50,000, QoL 46 vs 59.
New Delhi ranks #1 with a cost index of 128 and rent of ₹22,000/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 105 (+12 vs national average of 93).
Average quality of life: 53/100. Top: New Delhi at 46/100.
Safest city: Surat (72/100 safety score).
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': New Delhi stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 128 and median income of ₹6,80,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Surat leads with a composite score of 59/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (65), and walkability (42) metrics. Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and India is a good example of that tension.
The country average QoL score is 57/100. New Delhi leads with 46/100, reflecting its 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 (ranked #1) has a cost index of 128 and rent of ₹22,000/mo. Surat (#2) has index 82 and rent ₹10,000/mo — a 46-point gap.