Essentials
- City
- New Delhi, Delhi NCR, India
- Population
- Approximately 33,000,000 (Metro area)
- Internet Speed
- Avg 100-200 Mbps on Fiber (Airtel, Jio); 5G widely available
- Currency & Banking
- Indian Rupee (INR). 1 USD ≈ 83.50 INR, 1 EUR ≈ 90.20 INR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use RO filtered water or branded bottled water like Bisleri (₹20/L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, and M sockets
- SIM Card
- Airtel or Jio; approx. ₹719 for 84 days with 2GB/day at Indira Gandhi International Airport
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC, Citibank, and neobanks like Niyo; UPI (payment via QR) is essential and ubiquitous
- Accommodation
- Airbnb for short stays; ZoloStays or Stanza Living for coliving starts at ₹25,000/month
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; UPI (PhonePe/GPay) and Cards accepted everywhere except tiny stalls
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Gostops (Hostels), or serviced apartments in Saket starting at ₹45,000/month
- Budget Accommodation
- Hosteller (Rishikesh/Delhi branches), Moustache Delhi (South Extension) approx. ₹800/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Connaught Place (Central) or Hauz Khas Village (Hip/Historical)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Vasant Vihar, Greater Kailash (GK) I & II, or DLF Phase 3 in nearby Gurgaon
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (DLF Forum, Gurgaon) or Innov8 (Connaught Place). Daily pass approx. ₹800-1,200
- Best Cafe for Work
- Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters (Vasant Vihar/Saket) - excellent Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Indus Valley Playbook meetups or Delhi Startups group on Meetup.com
- Social Events for Expats
- Delhi Network (DN) or InterNations Delhi Chapter; weekly mixers in Chanakyapuri
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Ola (Auto-rickshaws, bikes, and cars available)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Vogo or Bounce (mostly nearby Noida/Gurgaon); monthly rentals around ₹4,000
- Best Beach Nearby
- None (landlocked); closest is Puri (Odisha) or Mumbai, both 2hr flight away
- Top Regional Airline
- IndiGo, Akasa Air
- Top International Airline
- Air India (Hub), Emirates, Qatar Airways
- Highway Access
- Yamuna Expressway (to Agra), NH48 (to Jaipur/Gurgaon)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) and Hazrat Nizamuddin
- Public Transport Passes
- Delhi Metro Smart Card; ₹200 initial cost, rechargeable via app
- Regional Travel
- Vande Bharat Express (High-speed trains to Agra/Chandigarh)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Max Super Speciality Hospital (Saket) or Medanta (Gurgaon)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre (Kailash Colony); Drop-in ₹500
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness (Multiple locations), Cult.fit (App-based subscription ₹15,000/year)
- Laundry Services
- UClean or Tumbledry; approx. ₹100 per kg for wash and fold
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Zomato and Swiggy (delivery within 30-45 mins)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Butter Chicken at Moti Mahal (Daryaganj) or Chole Bhature at Sita Ram Diwan Chand
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Greenr Cafe (GK1 and Vasant Vihar); Fabcafe (various locations)
- Best Dessert Spots
- The Big Chill Cakery (Khan Market) - Mississippi Mud Pie is famous
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Sarojini Nagar (Clothes), Lajpat Nagar (Ethnic wear), Janpath (Souvenirs)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.in, Flipkart, Myntra
- Grocery Delivery
- Blinkit or Zepto (deliveries in under 10 minutes)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Hauz Khas Village, Cyber Hub (Gurgaon), and Aerocity
- Local Brewery
- Quaff (Cyber Hub) or 7 Old Town (Hauz Khas)
- Wine Bars
- Perch Wine & Coffee Bar (Khan Market/Vasant Vihar)
- Street Food Stalls
- Chandni Chowk (Paranthe Wali Gali) - historical and legendary
- Popular International Cuisine
- Leo's Pizzeria (Vasant Vihar) for Neapolitan pizza; Yum Yum Cha (Select Citywalk) for Sushi
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- India Gate, Red Fort, Qutub Minar
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA)
- Historical Sites
- Humayun's Tomb, Lodhi Garden monuments
- Religious Sites
- Lotus Temple (Baha'i), Akshardham Temple, Jama Masjid
- Annual Events
- Surajkund International Crafts Mela (February), India Art Fair
- Cultural Districts
- Mandi House (Theater/Arts) and Shahpur Jat (Design/Fashion)
- Theater Venues
- Kamani Auditorium, Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts
- Local Markets
- Dilli Haat (INA) - entry ₹30, great for regional crafts and food
- Music Scene
- The Piano Man Jazz Club (Safdarjung Enclave)
- Street Art
- Lodhi Art District (between Khanna Market and Meherchand Market)
- Cooking Classes
- Saffron Palate (Hauz Khas) - home-style Indian cooking workshops
- Art Galleries
- Nature Morte, Vadehra Art Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's House), Secretariat Building
- Local Heritage
- Mughal and Lutyens' architectural fusion
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sanjay Van (City forest), Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
- National Parks Nearby
- Sultanpur National Park (1.5 hours), Sariska Tiger Reserve (4 hours)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Lodhi Gardens, Nehru Park (Chanakyapuri)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Signature Bridge (Wazirabad) at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Okhla Bird Sanctuary (Noida border)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Private farmhouses in Chattarpur (Common for winter parties)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Delhivery, Blue Dart, Porter (within city)
- Tech Repair Services
- Nehru Place (The largest electronics market in Asia)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Siri Fort Sports Complex
- Language Classes
- Zabaan Language Institute (Hindi/Urdu specialized)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- British Council Library (KG Marg), American Center
- Community Centers
- India Habitat Centre (IHC) - cultural hub with high-end amenities
- Gaming Lounges
- LXG (League of Extraordinary Gamers) - various locations
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not permitted in Delhi NCR (requires travel to Goa or Sikkim)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹180,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₹7,200,000 / $86,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹95,000 per m² in Noida/Greater Noida (e.g., 40 m² = ₹3,800,000 / $45,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹165,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹9,900,000 / $118,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹85,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹5,100,000 / $61,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹150,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹12,000,000 / $143,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹75,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹6,000,000 / $72,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (plus surcharge and cess) for domestic companies
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (subject to DTAA)
- Tax System
- Residents taxed on worldwide income; Non-residents taxed on India-sourced income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (plus 4% cess) on income above ₹1,500,000 (New Tax Regime)
- VAT
- GST (Goods and Services Tax) ranges from 5% to 28%; Standard is 18%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Place of Effective Management (PoEM) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Annual tax based on Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) unit area system
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty approx. 4% for women, 6% for men; 1% registration fee
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- None specific; double taxation avoidance agreements (DTAA) with 90+ countries