What if you were born in India?

If you had grown up in India instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Mumbai could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Taj Mahal, Agra. Photo: Yann; edited by Jim Carter, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in India

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in INR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in India: INR 17,600Rs 51,900
Rent (city centre): INR 5,080
Transport (public transport): INR 896
Food: INR 2,540
Saved: INR 2,640

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in India: INR 40,400Rs 119,000
Rent (suburbs): INR 10,300
Transport (public transport): INR 2,060
Food: INR 6,860
Saved: INR 6,050

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in India: INR 65,400Rs 193,000
Rent (city centre): INR 16,000
Transport (car): INR 6,120
Food: INR 8,010
Saved: INR 18,300

Try it with my own income

A day in Mumbai

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Mumbai, a city of mild winters around 23°C and hot summers near 31°C, and an umbrella is never far away.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Hindi at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be biryani, dosa and countless curries.
Evening
You get home with INR 6,050 saved each month. Most neighbourhoods feel safe after dark.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

India compared with Pakistan

	India	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.0× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	72 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	54 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	4.2%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	27°C	26°C
Languages	Hindi, English, regional languages	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	INR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs India, living in India and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in India?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around INR 40,400 a month at the same level in India (about Rs 119,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is India more expensive than Pakistan?

Everyday prices are about the same as in Pakistan or lower, according to World Bank price levels.

What language would I speak in India?

Mainly Hindi, English, regional languages. English is an official language.

Can I actually move to India?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs India page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.