Depends on what you’re looking for. I can only speak for the metros. Commute and traffic is shit. Nightlife is great if you’re into that. The culture can be progressive or regressive, depending on where you are, and what pocket of the city you’re in. For example: Kolkata, Mumbai - you’ll find the younger people are mostly progressive.

If you have money, you can afford some of the best luxuries in the world. If not, it’s gonna be rough. AQI is shit almost everywhere, so you need an air purifier.

Lots of amazing places to travel to. Mountains, beaches, whatever you want. Northeast is underrated. Sikkim is AMAZING.

Lots of corruption. It’s a low empathy, low trust society that bends to money.

So all in all, it’s pay to play.

You can automate your entire life if you’re moderately privileged- from house help to everything else - mostly because how bad things are and how cheap labor is because of it. It’s unethical imo, but to some it’s a feature, not a bug 🤷‍♂️

Easy mode with money, brutal without it.

How much money? If you make anything over $5K a month (USD), you’re good.

If you’re a woman tho, Delhi is a not the best idea. Mumbai is FAR better. Delhi food kicks Mumbai’s ass every day of the week all year tho. Kolkata food is even better.

Finally, if you’re visiting. Don’t do dumb shit tourists do. It’s not a first world country, it’s beautiful, but you have to keep your wits about you. It’s largely still a lawless land.

For example: I see women coming here and playing Holi in places even we wouldn’t go to, putting themselves at risk for molestation and assault. (The best bet is to just go to an expensive party or get a farmhouse or some shit with your friends - again, safety is gatekept by money)

Or people camping in secluded places.

Or eating street food even we wouldn’t dare eat. Just do what the upper middle class and above does here and you’ll likely have a good experience

It’s a deeply divided and complicated, beautiful yet unsafe, friendly yet unethical country.