New Delhi vs London Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: New Delhi leads on CPI (19.2 vs 78.3, NYC=100), New Delhi leads on rent index, and London leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
New Delhi
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (767% gap, New Delhi ahead); Restaurants (357% gap, New Delhi ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $2,539 lower in New Delhi than in London (~624% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $2,539 (favoring New Delhi).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | New Delhi | CPI 19.2 vs 78.3 (lower is better) |
| Housing | New Delhi | Rent index 9 vs 78 (lower is better) |
| Food | New Delhi | Groceries index 23.5 vs 68 (lower is better) |
| Transport | London | One-way ticket 1.7 vs 30 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | London | Utilities (85m²) 121.68 vs 3200 (lower is better) |
| Internet | London | Internet 46.41 vs 750 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | New Delhi | Restaurant index 17.5 vs 80 (lower is better) |
| Salary | New Delhi | Avg net salary 58000 vs 4594.2 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | London | PP index 95 vs 62 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: New Delhi leads with a 767% gap.
Rent index 9 vs 78 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: New Delhi — Lower housing / rent index (767% gap).
- Families: New Delhi — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors New Delhi; purchasing power favors London.
- Remote Workers: New Delhi — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors New Delhi (~308% gap).
- Budget Living: New Delhi — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- New Delhi is the overall cost winner on CPI (~308% lower everyday-cost index than London).
- Housing: New Delhi leads on rent index (767% gap).
- Food / groceries: New Delhi is lower (189% gap).
- Purchasing power: London scores higher (53% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$2,539 cheaper in New Delhi.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 19.2/78.3, rent 9/78, purchasing power 62/95. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-11
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Real
On-page labels for this view: Real · Real.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.