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Punjab / Haryana

Living in Chandigarh Tricity

India’s best-planned city: wide green sectors, clean streets and the Himalayas a couple of hours away.

Cost of living₹₹ Moderate
ClimateHot summers, cool winters; close to the hills.
AirportChandigarh (IXC)
Best forFamilies, retirees, government and education jobs

Designed by Le Corbusier, Chandigarh (with Mohali and Panchkula) is orderly and green, with good schools and hospitals and quick escapes to Shimla and Kasauli. Many returning Punjabi NRIs settle here.

Neighbourhoods to know

  • Chandigarh sectors (e.g., 8, 9, 10, 16): Central, leafy, close to markets.
  • Mohali: Newer apartments, IT parks, airport.
  • Panchkula: Quieter, near the hills.
  • Zirakpur: Good value, newer high-rises.

Pros

  • Clean, green and planned
  • Easy access to the hills
  • Good quality of life for the cost

Cons

  • Smaller job market
  • Hot summers

Tips for newcomers

  • Chandigarh proper has limited housing supply; Mohali and Panchkula offer more.
  • Popular with NRIs from Canada, the UK and Australia.

Before you move

Read our guides to moving to India, renting, FRRO registration and, for NRIs, returning to India.

We compare costs relatively rather than quoting rents, which change quickly and vary street by street. Check current listings on property portals before you budget.

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