India: cost of living

What is food inflation in India?

Food inflation, based on the Consumer Food Price Index, was 7.74% in September 2026, up from 5.97% in August, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, released on 12 October 2026. It was 8.06% in rural areas and 7.18% in urban areas. Overall retail inflation was 5.54%.

The September figures are provisional and are finalised in the next month's release. The CPI now uses a 2024 base year, so compare with older series with care. Vegetable prices often drive large swings in food inflation; the release lists onion among the items with the highest price increases. MoSPI says the October 2026 CPI will be released on 12 November 2026.

Official sources: MoSPI: CPI Press Release, September 2026 (PDF)

What is the price of petrol in India?

Petrol cost ₹102.12 a litre in Delhi on 14 October 2026, ₹111.21 in Mumbai, ₹107.77 in Chennai and ₹113.51 in Kolkata, according to the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell table of daily retail selling prices. Diesel cost ₹95.20 in Delhi. The Delhi petrol price has been unchanged since 25 May 2026, when it rose from ₹99.51; on 14 October 2025 it was ₹94.77.

The prices are those of Indian Oil Corporation outlets and include central excise duty, state VAT and dealer commission. VAT differs by state, which is why prices vary between cities. Prices can change daily from 6 am, and the PPAC table is updated each day.

Official sources: PPAC: RSP of petrol and diesel in metro cities (PDF) · PPAC: Retail selling prices

How much does an average Indian household spend per month?

Average monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) was ₹4,122 in rural India and ₹6,996 in urban India in 2023-24, according to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24 factsheet from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Food took 47.04% of spending in rural areas and 39.68% in urban areas.

The figures are per person, not per household, and exclude the value of free items received through welfare schemes such as free food grains. Including those items, the averages were ₹4,247 rural and ₹7,078 urban. The urban-rural gap narrowed to 69.7% of rural MPCE, from 83.9% in 2011-12. The survey is also used to measure poverty.

Official sources: MoSPI: HCES 2023-24 Factsheet (PDF)

What are the GST rates in India?

India's goods and services tax has two main rates, a merit rate of 5% and a standard rate of 18%, with a special rate of 40% for a few goods and services, according to the GST Council. The Council agreed the change from the previous four-tier structure at its 56th meeting on 3 September 2025, and the new rates took effect from 22 September 2025.

Many everyday items such as soaps, toothpaste and bicycles moved to 5%, and some items stay exempt. The 40% rate applies to goods such as tobacco products and some luxury items. Exact rates depend on the product's tax classification, published in the Council's rate notifications.

Official sources: GST Council: Recommendations of the 56th meeting (PDF)

Is inflation higher in rural or urban India?

Retail inflation was 6.08% in rural India and 4.88% in urban India in September 2026, against 5.54% for the country as a whole, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Consumer Price Index release of 12 October 2026. In August 2026 the rates were 5.24% rural and 4.31% urban.

Rural and urban households buy different baskets: food has a larger weight in rural spending, so food price rises push rural inflation up more. The CPI is now on a 2024 base. September figures are provisional and are finalised a month later. State-level indices are published in the same release.

Official sources: MoSPI: CPI Press Release, September 2026 (PDF)

What is the inflation rate in India?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2025, is 2.4%. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across South Asia the middle value was 3.1%, and India placed 5th highest of 6. Of 165 countries with 2025 data, 95th highest.

How much do people in India spend?

In 2025, household consumption per person in India was $1,503, according to the World Bank. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Of 124 countries with 2025 data, 93rd highest.

How many people in India live on under $3 a day?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2023, is 2.6%. That compares with 27.1% in 2011. World rank, highest first: 18th of 59.

What is India's Gini coefficient?

23.0: that is the Gini index in India for 2023, according to the World Bank. That compares with 28.8 in 2011. Worldwide: 59th of 59.