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The world's largest expat community

Your Expat Community in India

  • Connect with fellow expats in India

  • Join exciting events and groups for expats

  • Get information in our expat guides

  • Exchange tips about expat life in India

  • Jonathan Brown

    The great events organized by InterNations helped me get to know Delhi expats from all over the world.

Welcome to the InterNations Community of Expats in India!

Namaste, and welcome to our expat communities in India, the home of curry, as well as some of the most captivating culture and ancient history on the planet. A combination of this impressive past and an exciting new generation of entrepreneurs and small businesses is what makes India so special, and is driving its position in the world as a global economic power. Historically, expats have populated the beautiful country of India for the decades during British rule, and continue to do so today. The culture may be a little different now, but the people have always been exceptionally friendly, as is the expat community of InterNations. If you're wondering, “where should I stay in Delhi?”, “which parts of Mumbai are safe?”, or “Are there any job prospects on the gorgeous beaches of Goa?”, then you can contact the Indian expat community online for advice through InterNations. Once you arrive, you can also attend our events or join interest-based groups to make new friends and contacts. The dedicated community will be happy to answer your questions, however trivial, and will do everything they can to help you settle in. There are reportedly around 20,000 to 30,000 expatriates living in the exotic country of India, and the ever increasing number of foreigners are drawn to the country's incredibly diverse landscape. From the bustling, thriving cities full of people, like Mumbai and New Delhi, and the peaceful beaches and backwaters of Goa and Kerala, to the ancient temples and monuments that fill the north of the country, and the quaint colonial towns such as Pondicherry that offer a different view — India has something for everyone.

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.

Jump right in:

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

Join Our Online and In-Person Events in India

Attend our many events to get to know like-minded expats, both in India and around the world! Our new online events even let you find connection and inspiration without leaving your home.

Mar 23, 2024, 2:00 PM
1 attendee
An excellent opportunity for those who are curious and want to know more about meditation. Discover how easy and simple it is to meditate. Find out how meditation can help you in your daily life. T
Mar 24, 2024, 10:30 AM
Join other members for a relaxed Sunday afternoon! This activity doesn't have an organizer. What does that mean? We at InterNations have created the activity and chosen a date and time, but it's up t
Get ready to celebrate Holi like never before at Dunk Fest 2.0! As a special treat for our members, we've secured VIP entry at an exclusive discounted price. Instead of the regular ₹2000, you can joi
Two Years without splashing into the fun of the most happening kind of event is too much for our New Delhi Community!! After a very long wait InterNations New Delhi is coming back with a Brunch & Sund

Want to see all the upcoming events in India?

Connect with Like-Minded Expatriates in India

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    From Brazil, living in Gurgaon
  • Community Member
    From United Kingdom, living in New Delhi
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    From Netherlands, living in New Delhi
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    From Australia, living in Gurgaon
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    From France, living in Gurgaon
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    From Spain, living in Chennai
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Meet other expats like you in India

Our Global Partners

Share your hobbies and interests with expats in India

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.