Which are the best places to retire in India, in the land of mystics and crude realities, which can hardly be explained by words and images? We found them, so keep on reading!
The diversity is the natural law of India, and this is best seen by the appearance of its streets, where you can see in a row the huts of the poor who are located next to the villa of some rich man, or historical castles. At the same time you can see shoemakers and tailors who have their shops open in front of the jewelry store, also here you can see the lawyers, doctors, dentists who work under the open sky, and the whole office is formed by one table and two chairs.
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Many people who expect grandeur and luxury from this mystical country, will be shocked to see dirty airports, streets, poverty, noise and huge crowds that don’t miss the smallest street. Nevertheless, the hospitality of the hosts, their wide smile, and palms pressed together, who salute you with the word “Namaste” as a sign of welcome, reduces disappointment.
The average salary in the country is around $100, and it is believed that over 50% of the population is poor. Health insurance and retirement rights have only those people who work in state institutions. For the most vulnerable population, there are food shelters and free health care for the protection of the leper and tuberculosis, but many of people, do not want to be treated. Despite these facts, India represents a strong agrarian-industrial country, which has a huge mineral wealth. It also represents a major nuclear power and one of the leading countries in information technology.
If you, however, are not a fan of a tropical climate, rapid way of life, and you have in plan to spend golden years in a peaceful atmosphere in the country where snow is the main source of entertainment, then we recommend you to read our article on the 10 best places to retire in Austria.
To determine most retiree-friendly destinations in the magical country of India, first, we found the most recommended places for elderly on web portals such as Hellotravel, Investopedia, Siliconindia, Retire2india, Rediff, to name a few. Next, we decided to create our unique ranking of those places by using four different criteria that are of great importance to people in retirement. Those criteria are:
1. Cost of living;
2. Cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment;
3. Apartment price per square meter;
4. Index of health care (assess healthcare from a variety of aspects, such as the quality of equipment, doctors, and personnel, etc.).
Information for all these factors, we’ve found on Numbeo and Nomad list. Counting all criteria separately, we got our ultimate list of best places to retire in India:
10. Chandigarh
The town was founded in 1947, and it’s capital of the province Punjab and Haryana in India. It has around 808,796 inhabitants. Chandigarh is known around the world because of its urban and modern architecture. One of the biggest attractions is the ‘stone garden’, which arose from the exhaust stone that remained after the city has built. For a normal and decent life, you will need around $890. Renting one-bedroom apartment costs around $140, while the price of the apartment is somewhat $110, per square foot. The system of health care is of high quality, as index shows 67.5/100.
9. Jaipur
Jaipur is the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan, located in North India in the semi-desert area. Around the city, there are beautiful palaces, which hide many interesting stories. Some of these palaces have converted into beautiful and magnificent hotels. The summer season is marked by very high temperatures after that comes the rainy season with the strong stormy wind. The old town of Jaipur is surrounded by walls, but eventually, the city has spread far beyond them due to development and growing population. Also around the city, there are numerous markets, and because its content and diversity, you will feel like a treasure hunter. The average cost of living in Jaipur is around $420. If you want to rent a one bedroom apartment, it is necessary to pay close to $110, while for buying an apartment you will need $140 per square foot. Index of health care is 41.67/100.
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8. Dehradun
Dehradun is located in the region of Dehradun and is also its capital. The city is famous for its impressive nature, beautiful interiors, and incredible architecture. The main attraction in town is the Buddha temple, visited by hundreds of tourists daily. For the costs of living in the city you will need somewhat $300, and if you want to rent a one bedroom apartment in the city center, you need to allocate $80, while for buying an apartment you need to pay around $90 per square foot. The index of health care is 43.5/100.
7. Coimbatore
Coimbatore is the capital of Tamil Nadu region and is also known under the name of South Indian Manchester. The city has over 1.5 million residents and its the second largest city in the country. For years, it’s among the top destinations for life, and the main reasons for this are low cost of living, which amount to $860, great health care system, and its natural beauties. Price for the renting a one-bedroom apartment is around $120, while if you want to buy one, you will need close to $60 per square foot. The city has one of the best health services in the country, and the health care index is at high-level and reaches 83/100.
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6. Mangalore
This famous port city has provided the wealth of its inhabitants, using the trade and transport of spices for years, and today is known for transporting and processing of cocoa, cashew nuts, granite, etc. The city has an airport which allows the connection with other important cities in India. In terms of religion, Christianity had a strong impact on the city which can be identified by the cathedral of St. Peter. Also in the city, there are numerous Hindu temples. The average cost of living in the city is around $570. The price of the apartment in the city center is close to $70 per square foot, while the price of the rental one-bedroom apartment is of $150. Index of health care is very high and amounts to 82.3/100.
5. Shimla
Shimla is the city in northern India, placed in region Himachal Pradesh. This used to be the unavoidable summer residence of the British viceroy and today it represents the modern city with historical importance for India. The heart of the city is the main street The Mall Road, decorated by Mediterranean pines. Costs of living in the city are $300. If you decide for buying an apartment in the city center, you need to pay $110 per square foot, while renting a single room apartment costs around $90. Healthcare index is 84.4/100. Sound almost ideal, right? Well, it must be, since Shimla has found its place on the list of best places to retire in India.
4. Goa
Goa is the real paradise for trance music lovers and creative youth, tired of the western lifestyle. This vividly colorful place used to be the Portuguese colony. It is located on the west coast of the Indian subcontinent accessing to the Indian ocean. Influence of colonization can be seen all over the city in the form of old villas built in Portuguese style with long porches, as well as Catholic churches. Costs of living in this city are $410. Renting a single room apartment is $70. If you decide for buying one, you need to pay around $40, per square foot. Healthcare index is 46.2/100.
3. Pondicherry
This ex-colony of France, which numbers 1.24 million of residents, is placed in the southern part of India and is characterized by interesting history which is mostly directed at trade and warfare. Pondicherry represents a blend of Eastern and Western culture, which is reflected in the historic buildings that date from the period of French rule. Average costs of life in Pondicherry are about $430. Renting a single room apartment minimally costs around $100, while for buying one you will need to give around $70 per square foot. Index of health care is 86.11/100.
2. Lucknow
The largest city in region Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, is placed in northern India on a coast of river Gomati. It is one of the leading industrial cities in India, known for information technology, mechanical engineering, chemistry, textile industry, etc. Lucknow is also world-known by its historical monuments, especially monuments of architecture as mausoleum from 18th century, Pearl Palace and manuscripts inside it, Jama Masjid mosque dating from 19th century and many others. The health care system is satisfying taking into account that health care index is 73.15/100. Average costs of living in Lucknow are $590. Renting single room apartment is around $60. For buying an apartment in the city center, you need to pay close to $70 per square foot.
1. Mysore
First place on our list of 10 best places to retire in India is saved for the historical city Mysore. The city was founded in 1399, and it is known for trade and unique palaces. Mysore is one of the largest cities in India. The main attraction in the city is Maharaju Palace, characterized by a unique interior, floor mosaic, and engraves wood. A simple walk through the city can be a real pleasure for each adventurer because of magnificent buildings found at every turn. In the northern part of the city, there is a beautiful neo-gothic cathedral St. Philomena that was built to be similar to Koeln cathedral. Average costs of life in Mysore are $240. The cost of renting one bedroom apartment is of $90, and if you want to buy one, you need to allocate around $80 per square foot. Health care index is 72.11/100.
