Best cities to live in India (2026)
2 cities ranked by Livability Score — affordability, safety, internet, democracy & climate.
Country at a Glance
Freedom House score
Press freedom rank
Grid reliability
Corporate tax
Bangalore
66/100Goa
65/100Compare cities in India
❓ Living in India — Common Questions
What is the best city to live in India?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Bangalore ranks #1 in India with a score of 66/100, and city-centre rent from around $324/month.
What is the cheapest city in India?▾
Goa has the most affordable city-centre rent in our India data, at around $167/month for a 1-bedroom apartment.
What is the safest city in India?▾
By UNODC homicide rate data, Bangalore is the safest city in India in our database, with a rate of 2.8 per 100,000 people.
Should I move to Bangalore or Goa?▾
Bangalore scores 66/100 on our Livability Score vs 65/100 for Goa. Rent is $324/mo in Bangalore vs $167/mo in Goa. See the full comparison at the bottom of this page.
How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in India?▾
India offers the India Employment Visa (moderate process). Duration: Up to 5 years. Key requirement: Job offer from Indian company with salary ≥ ₹16.25 lakh/yr (~$19,343). Company must sponsor. Relatively straightforward for skilled workers.. The process is moderate difficulty. Check individual city pages for full details.
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