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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ranking of cities in India for 2026. New Delhi leads with a cost index of 128 and rent of ₹22,000/month.
Ranking of cities in India for 2026. New Delhi leads with a cost index of 128 and rent of ₹22,000/month.
New Delhi: cost index 128 (+35 vs national avg 93), rent ₹22,000/month.
Delhi region average cost index: 105. New Delhi is +23 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.
After analyzing dozens of cities, one thing stands out: 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%. 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. Pair that with the housing data, and the pattern sharpens. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and India is a good example of that tension.
For digital nomads specifically, New Delhi earns a DN score of 52/100, powered by 62 Mbps internet, walkability of 55/100, and a nightlife score of 80/100. That ratio is hard to beat anywhere else.
New Delhi — cost index 128, rent ₹22,000/mo, income ₹6,80,000, QoL 46/100.
Surat — cost index 82, rent ₹10,000/mo, income ₹4,50,000, QoL 59/100.
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.
The Delhi region of average QoL score is 53/100. 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. Surat: cost index 82, rent ₹10,000/mo, income ₹4,50,000/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.