Looking for American Expats in India?

Thinking about moving to India as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2024 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what an American expats in India wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• Your money goes much further. Low cost of living is the most common pro by far, and about seven in ten expats in India (69%) rate the general cost of living positively, against a global average of 40%.

• Healthcare is affordable and easy to reach. Americans write about seeing a doctor without dreading the bill — 68% rate healthcare affordability positively (vs. 58% globally), and 71% rate the quality of medical care positively.

• The food is a genuine highlight. Regional cooking, variety, and hospitality come up again and again, and 71% of expats in India rate culinary variety and dining options positively.

• People are warm, and English opens doors. Around half (54%) say making local friends is easy, above the global average of 38%, and 62% find it easy to get by without the local language (vs. 48% globally).

• Air pollution is the number-one complaint. Americans raise it more than any other topic, especially in winter, and just 16% of expats in India rate air quality positively — against a global average of 64%.

• Getting around takes planning. Traffic and road conditions wear people down: only 46% rate the availability of public transportation positively (vs. 72% globally) and 37% say it's easy to get around on foot or by bike.

• Paperwork is slow going. Visas, permits, and bank accounts are a recurring frustration, and just 20% of expats in India find it easy to deal with local bureaucracy, compared with 36% globally.

• Americans stay visibly foreign. Staring, being overcharged, and feeling like an outsider come up often, and the language is hard — only 21% say it's easy to learn.

For Americans, India offers a life that's cheaper, warmer, and less of a grind, with healthcare they can actually afford and people who make them feel welcome. The trade-offs are physical and daily. The air, the traffic, and the paperwork but most are happy they came, with 68% rating their life abroad positively.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

Of course, expat living in India is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Indian way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in India, residing in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in New Delhi or Americans in Mumbai.

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in India.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our India Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get stuffed turkey in Mumbai.
• Search the InterNations Places database for India to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.

From the National Capital Territory around Delhi to southern states like Kerala, Goa or Tamil Nadu, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in India.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in India. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Indian bhakri, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in New Delhi’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see the country's most vibrant and biggest city as well as other beautiful landmarks in India.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in India!