India cost of living 2026

India’s published price level was 28% of the United States in 2023. For students, that points to a lower overall cost base, while still leaving room for local differences in the biggest day-to-day expenses.

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Price level, against the United States

28%

A basket of goods costing $100 in the United States costs about $28 in India, at market exchange rates. This is a whole-economy average from the World Bank (2023), not a student budget — rent near a university and a student's own habits move it a long way in both directions.

The main comparison for planning is the price level against the United States: 28% in 2023. That measure gives a broad signal for how expensive a place is overall, but it does not replace a full student budget, because it does not break out individual costs such as housing, food, or getting around.

What usually moves a student budget most is where you live, how often you travel, and how you spend day to day. Even with a lower price level, those choices can change the total cost a lot, so it is safer to plan around your own pattern of spending than to rely on one country-wide number.

India has 475 universities here, including University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Ashoka University, Lovely Professional University, NorthCap University, Dharamsinh Desai University, and University of Health Sciences Andhra Pradesh. That gives students a wide set of options to compare, but the cost picture still depends on the university and the city you choose.

For a broader economic context, GDP per capita at purchasing power parity was USD 7,819. That helps show the general income and price environment, but it does not tell you what a student will actually spend in a month, so it should be used alongside the price level rather than in place of it.