Best Cities to Live in the US for Indian Students in 2026

Lakshmi

7 min read

Updated On Nov 4, 2025

Looking for the best cities to study in the US for Indian students? You can choose from destinations like San Francisco and Seattle, among others. Scroll through to find the entire list along with other details.

Limited-time offer : Access a free 10-Day IELTS study plan curated for you

11 Best Cities to Live in the USA for Indian Students in 2026
Factors to Be Considered When Choosing the Best City to Live in the USA
Choose Your Best City to Live in The USA with GetGIS Assistance

The United States is one of the most preferred destinations for foreigners, specifically for Indians to study, work, and settle abroad. But are you aware of which is the best city in the USA for Indians to live in? From San Francisco and Seattle to Atlanta and LA, the US has an option for everyone.

Indian students often choose to study in the USA because the education system focuses on practical learning, helping them build job-ready skills and explore careers across fields like tech, healthcare, finance, engineering, media, and entertainment.

11 Best Cities to Live in the USA for Indian Students in 2026

City Name	Indian Population 2025	US News Ranking 2025-2026	Estimated Monthly Cost for Indian Students (USD)	Estimated Annual Cost for Indian Students (USD)
San Francisco, CA	110,000	22	1900 - 2700	22800 - 32400
Seattle, WA	85,000	28	1800 - 2200	21600 - 26400
Atlanta, GA	65,000	30	1300 - 1900	15600 - 22800
San Jose, CA	55,000	70	1800 - 2500	21600 - 30000
Boston, MA	100,000	88	1800 - 2500	21600 - 30000
Dallas, TX	110,000	95	1500 - 1900	18000 - 22800
Houston, TX	75,000	97	1200 - 1600	14400 - 19200
Chicago, IL	160,000	119	1200 - 1800	14400 - 21600
New York City, NY	185,000	126	1800 - 2500	21600 - 30000
Los Angeles, CA	190,000	130	1900 - 2700	22800 - 32400

1. San Francisco, California

San Francisco is ranked the 22nd best place to live in the U.S. by the U.S. News Report 2025-26.
Known as Silicon Valley, it remains a leading tech hub offering abundant job opportunities in technology and innovation.
The city hosts vibrant cultural festivals and has a strong, growing Indian community.
Near top universities like Stanford University and UC Berkeley

Particulars	Details
City Name	San Francisco
Unemployment Rate	4.3% (August 2025)
Average Income	USD 125,000 (approximately INR 11,000,000, using an average exchange rate of 1 USD = 88 INR)
Average Cost of Living	For 1 Person: USD 3,800/month (approx. INR 334,400) For Family of 4: USD 12,000/month (approx. INR 1,056,000)
Current Indian Population	Approximately 115,000 (2026 estimate)
Major Industries	Technology, Finance, Healthcare

2. Seattle, Washington

Seattle is ranked the 28th best place to live in the U.S. by the U.S. News Report 2025-26
The city is the headquarters for industry giants Amazon and Microsoft (Microsoft’s main campus in Redmond, a Seattle suburb)
Seattle is ideal for nature lovers with nearby mountains, forests, and outdoor recreational opportunities.
The city hosts a vibrant Indian community with active cultural associations and frequent events.
Amazon continues to have a major presence in Seattle with 80,000+ employees in the Puget Sound area, despite some corporate job reductions ongoing in 2025-26
Microsoft employs around 53,000 people at its Redmond campus and continues to enforce in-office mandates aligning with the hybrid work model.

Particulars	Details
City Name	Seattle
Unemployment Rate	4.3% (2026 estimate)
Average Income	USD 110,000 (approx. INR 9,680,000, using average exchange rate of 1 USD = 88 INR)
Average Cost of Living	For 1 Person: USD 3,800/month (approx. INR 334,400) For Family of 4: USD 12,000/month (approx. INR 1,056,000)
Current Indian Population	80,000 (2026 estimate)
Major Industries	Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing

Also Read: Breakdown of the Cost of Living in New York, USA

3. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is ranked the 30th best place to live in the U.S. by the U.S. News Report 2025-26, showing a significant improvement from 30th in 2024-25.
The surrounding metro area suburb, Johns Creek, was ranked the No. 1 best place to live in the U.S. for 2025-26, praised for top-rated schools, safe neighborhoods, abundant parks, and a strong community spirit.
Major industries in Atlanta include technology, healthcare, and logistics, sustaining robust job growth.
Atlanta offers relatively affordable housing and a cost of living compared to other major metropolitan areas.
The city has a vibrant and growing Indian community estimated at around 68,000 in 2026, with numerous cultural events and organizations.

Particulars	Details
City Name	Atlanta
Unemployment Rate	Estimated 3.9% (August 2025 data, projected ~4.4% for 2026)
Average Income	Approximately USD82,000 annually
Average Cost of Living	For 1 Person: ~USD3,850 per month For a Family of 4: ~USD12,200 per month
Current Indian Population	Approximately 68,000 (2026 estimate)
Major Industries	Technology, Healthcare, Logistics, with a growing Indian professional community in IT, finance, and healthcare sectors

4. San Jose, California

San Jose is ranked the 70th best city to live in the U.S. by the US News Report 2025-26.
It remains a hub for innovation, hosting Google, Apple, Facebook, and other tech giants, fostering high salaries and economic growth.
The city offers excellent prospects in technology, biotechnology, and finance industries, attracting top talent.
San Jose hosts a vibrant Indian community with active cultural organizations and events.

Particulars	Details
City Name	San Jose
Unemployment Rate	Approx. 3.5% in 2026 (projected, from 4.7% in August 2025)
Average Income	About USD130,000 annually(INR 7,191,640)
Cost of Living	For 1 Person: Around USD 3,800/month (INR 337,927) For a Family of 4: Around USD12,000/month (INR 1,069,764)
Current Indian Population	An estimated 50,000 (2026)
Major Industries	Technology, Biotechnology, Finance, with strong representation of Indian professionals in Silicon Valley's tech ecosystem, including companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and many startups

Also Read: Cost of Living in Texas 2025

5. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is ranked the 88th best city to live in the U.S. by the US News Report 2025-26, reflecting its strong academic and career opportunities.
The city is home to top-tier universities like Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The city hosts a few of the prominent world-class hospitals and research centers in the country.
The city hosts active Indian communities with lively cultural events and organizations.

Particulars	Details
City Name	Boston
Unemployment Rate	Approximately 4.1% (2026 estimate)
Average Income	Around USD 95,000 annually (approx. INR 8,336,000)
Average Cost of Living	For 1 Person: ~USD 3,800/month((approx. INR 333,260)) For a Family of 4: ~USD 12,000/month (approx. INR 1,052,400)
Current Indian Population	Approximately 90,000 (2026 estimate), with a highly educated community contributing significantly to the local economy
Major Industries	Education (Harvard, MIT), Healthcare (world-class hospitals and research centers), Technology (biotech and startups)

6. Dallas, Texas

Dallas is one of the least expensive cities in the US popular for its robust economy and friendly communities. The city hosts a significant Indian population along with various cultural amenities and supportive environment for new immigrants and families.

Key Highlights of Dallas

Houston is ranked the 97th best place to live in the U.S. by the U.S. News Report 2025-26.
The city has a strong job market majorly in areas like technology, finance, and healthcare
Lower and affordable housing costs compared to other major cities
Active and welcoming Indian associations and cultural events.

Particulars	Details
City Name	Dallas
Unemployment Rate	4.40%
Average Income	78,000
Average Cost of Living	For 1 Person: $3,800 For a family of 4: $12,000
Current Indian Population	100,000
Major Industries	Technology, Finance, Healthcare

7. Houston, Texas

Houston is ranked the 97th best place to live in the U.S. by the U.S. News Report 2025-26.
The city offers low or affordable cost of living in USA
The city is a major hub for sectors like oil and gas industries in USA
Houston hosts numerous Indian festivals, temples and Indian restaurants.

Particulars	Details
City Name	Houston
Unemployment Rate	Approximately 4.9% (August 2026 data, projected around 4.5% - 5.0% in 2026)
Average Income	Around USD 75,000 annually (approx. INR 6,570,000,)
Average Cost of Living	For 1 Person: ~USD 3,800/month((approx. INR 333,000)) For a Family of 4: ~USD 12,000/month (approx. INR 1,051,200)
Current Indian Population	Approximately 72,000 (2026 estimate)
Major Industries	Energy, Healthcare, Aerospace, with expanding sectors in technology and manufacturing

Also Read: Complete Breakdown of the Cost of Living in California, USA in 2025

8. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is ranked the 119th best place to live in the U.S. by the U.S. News Report 2025-26.
The city is home to few of the key industries like finance, manufacturing and technology.
Chicago is home to various Indian cultural centers and events
The city is in close proximity to top universities live University of Chicago, Northwestern University, etc.

Particulars	Details
City Name	Chicago
Unemployment Rate	Approximately 5.0% as of August 2025, projected to be stable around 5.0%
Average Income	Around USD 72,000 annually
Average Cost of Living	For 1 Person: ~USD 3,800/month(approx. INR 6,314,000) For a Family of 4: ~USD 12,000/month (approx. INR 1,052,400)
Current Indian Population	Approximately 155,000 (2026 estimate)
Major Industries	Finance, Manufacturing, Technology

9. New York City, New York

New York City is ranked the 126th best place to live in the U.S. by the U.S. News Report 2025-26.
The city offers diverse job markets that span across various fields like finance, media technology and healthcare
It is a cultural melting pot with numerous Indian cultural centers, festival,s and restaurants
Near proximity to prestigious universities like Columbia University and New York University

Particulars	Details
City Name	New York City
Unemployment Rate	Approximately 5.0% to 5.1% (stable as of late 2025, projected for 2026)
Average Income	Around USD 85,000 annually (approx. INR 7,457,000)
Average Cost of Living	For 1 Person: USD 3,500/month (approx. INR 307,000) For a Family of 4: USD 11,500/month (approx. INR 1,009,000)
Current Indian Population	Approximately 200,000 (2026 estimate)
Major Industries	Finance, Media, Technology

10. Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles is ranked the 130th best city to live in the U.S. by the U.S. News Report 2025-26.
A major hub to the entertainment industry and provides opportunities in media entertainment and technology
The city is a hub to rich tapestry of cultures among which Indians hold a significant presence
Close proximity to universities like University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of South California (USC)

Particulars	Details
City Name	Los Angeles
Unemployment Rate	Approximately 6.3% as of August 2025, projected to be around 6.5% in 2026
Average Income	Around USD 75,000 annually (approx. INR 6,570,000)
Average Cost of Living	For 1 Person: ~USD 3,800/month ((approx. INR 333,000)) For a Family of 4: ~USD 12,000/month (approx. INR 1,051,200)
Current Indian Population	Approximately 180,000 (2026 estimate)
Major Industries	Entertainment, Technology, Healthcare

Also Read: IELTS band for the USA in 2026

Factors to Be Considered When Choosing the Best City to Live in the USA

So far we have learnt about the 11 best cities to live in the States, let us now learn about the factors to be considered when selecting the best state to live in the USA. These factors include:

Endure that you have access to strong job markets in your field

Do a detailed analysis of the cost of living in USA cities factors like housing, transportation, etc.

The presence of Indian communities, cultural, and divine scope in the city

Check with the availability of quality schools and higher education institutions in the proximity

Check the safest town in the US list before selecting your destination

If you have a preference of certain weather conditions check with the best fit

Check your ability to access healthcare, wellness, and recreation facilities.

Also Read: IELTS Band for The USA

Choose Your Best City to Live in The USA with GetGIS Assistance

Selecting the best city to live in the USA for Indian immigrants involves balanced decision-making considering factors like job opportunities, community support, quality of life, etc. The cities listed above are not an exhaustive list of best fits for Indian professionals or immigrant families.

Alternatively, before making a decision, you can also seek advice from immigration experts like GetGIS. Our immigration experts are well versed to guide you through all your immigration needs.

Book Your Free Consultation