Your Expat Community in India

With InterNations, you never stand alone. Whether you are moving to another country or going on a business trip somewhere — our communities around the world are there to make you feel at home wherever you are. Feel free to check out our vibrant InterNations Communities in countries like Malaysia or Germany.

Frequently asked questions regarding expats in India

Why are expats moving to India?

Of course, the individual reasons why expats decide to move to India can vary a lot. But thanks to our vast member base and our annual Expat Insider survey, we were able to uncover some of the underlying trends that make India an appealing place to move to. Notably, the most valued attributes of India as an expat destination are high salaries & great career opportunities, low cost-of-living and the low language barrier.

How much do expats earn in India?

On average, expats make on average 293,000 USD according to the ECA Expat Salary Survey for salary levels of expats in middle management positions. This is not the cash salary that expat workers take home after taxes, but the total value of their expat package that usual includes healthcare, cost of education, and housing (among other things). This relatively high salary combined with the not-too-high cost of living explain why India scored so amicably in the Personal Finance Index (9th) and the Cost of Living Index (18th) in 2019.

Where are expats living in India?

Usually the expat population concentrates in places that offer the most career opportunities — at least for those who aren’t just looking for a place to retire in the sun. According to our member base these are the most popular cities for expats in India:

• New Delhi
• Mumbai
• Bangalore
• Calcutta
• Hyderabad

Learn More about Being an Expat in India

If you're looking for work, you may end up finding a home in one of India's major cities such as Delhi or Mumbai. These cities mix the old India with the new, up and coming side of the country. With jobs ranging from teaching to working as a CEO of a big corporation, India has a diverse choice of lifestyle. Plenty of expats have also opted for a simpler way of life in the relaxed atmosphere of beach-lined Goa, which has seen British, American, and Australian expats calling it home for decades. The cost of living in India is relatively low, particularly in comparison to the West. Housing, food, entertainment, and education are much lower, even in the larger and more affluent cities. India has a number of dialects throughout the country, but English is very widely spoken, which makes communication relatively easy. Because there are so many dialects in the country, it's often easier for Indians to communicate with each other using English anyway! Indians are extremely friendly and most expats find that it is easy to settle into life in India — although the food, housing, and culture can be very different, expats will often live a very luxurious life in India, particularly if they are earning Western currency. The rupee did see some growth in 2014, however, encouraging a surge of inbound capital flows and stabilization of the rupee.

InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities around the world. Meet fellow global minds in your city of residence or get to know local expatriates before you're moving or traveling abroad and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the world. Whether they live in France or Bahrain, InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.

Get a Head-Start on Building Your Network in India

All of the expats of InterNations went through a strict membership approval process, so that you can feel safe when talking to other members about your experiences or asking them questions or meeting up with them in real life at our events. All of InterNations’ members are like-minded expats with plenty of advice and life experience to offer. InterNations is not only a great place to chat online to other expats, but also a way of meeting up with other foreigners when you arrive in India. There are a number of groups you can sign up for, such as the Art Evenings Group in New Delhi, the Theater Lovers Group in Mumbai or the Outdoors and Adventures Group in Pune. Trying something new in a new place can be a great way to meet other people like you, and getting involved with a group in real life also gives you an instant social life that, in a place that you are unfamiliar with, is a great start to your new life. Enjoy India's rich culture, cuisine, and landscape through groups and events organized by the Indian expat community. Meet like-minded people in person, make great friends, and experience the unique and incredibly exciting life as an expat in India through InterNations.