Hyderabad, India Report of what it's like to live there - 03/22/25
Personal Experiences from Hyderabad, India
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No, I have also lived in Amman and London.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
The U.S.: it's a longggg trip. Takes about 13-14 hours from DC to Doha and then about four hours from Doha to Hyderabad. There are opportunities to transfer through London or Frankfurt instead, but any way you cut it, it's going to be a long way away.
3. What years did you live here?
2024-2026.
4. How long have you lived here?
Eight months.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic mission.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Dip housing is split between a huge high-end apartment complex and villas. As a single person, I was placed in a three-bedroom apartment with a balcony. The apartment complex is true to its photos online, and it has a nice green space for walking (a real treat in Hyderabad). It also has a small grocery store, gym, pool, coffee shop, tennis courts, etc. It’s right across a busy road from Knowledge City, a section of Hyderabad with lots of tech workers and therefore a good amount of cafes and restaurants. I have loved the housing in Hyderabad.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Local produce and rice and maida and edible oil (NOT olive oil), Indian staples, are all extremely cheap. Eggs, milk, and yogurt are also inexpensive. The main thing you'll pay for here are cheeses, all-purpose flour (if you can find it), and anything imported. Most imported grocery products, like peanut butter or cereals or chips are available for a high price.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
I shipped all purpose flour and olive oil from Costco and I'm glad I did. I can get all purpose flour through post but the olive oil wouldn't be able to come due to liquid requirements.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Tons of options: food delivery is super cheap and fast and works for just about every restaurant in the city. As warning, lots of food here, even when it isn't supposed to be Indian food, has some Indian flavor in it (e.g. aglio e olio at an "italian" restaurant is still going to have an absurd amount of red pepper flakes to make it spicy). However, with that in mind, there are lots of options. Obviously there are plentiful biryani/dosa/idli/sambar opportunities, but there are also Chipotle-adjacent restaurants (California burrito), Italian-inspired spots, pizza, some American-style food, and tons of "pan-Asian" (some mix of Chinese and Japanese and Thai food with inevitably a Telugu flair).
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Nothing unusual as far as I know.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
Dip pouch for things from abroad. I once tried to order something from the UK outside of the dip pouch and it was a real pain because of really high customs duties that India has on certain imports. When I order things within India, I generally get them on time through local couriers like Blue Dart, though I have had some really long and unexplained delays with the service.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Very available, very affordable. People have cleaners and drivers.
3. Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
A lot of the city does not have sidewalks that are of sufficient quality for walking or running. I wouldn't recommend riding a bike on the road either, although there is a new bike path that is covered and separated from the road that is all over Instagram and seems quite nice.
4. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
Gyms in the housing and at work. Gyms for fees around the city. Not a ton of options for working out outside due to a lack of accessible green space, heat, pollution, etc.
5. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit card roulette is common. Sometimes an Amex will work but a Visa won't or vice versa. Sometimes only tap or only chip will work. Sometimes none of it will work and you will have to use UPI (the Indian direct pay app system that allows you to pay everywhere from your Indian bank account via QR codes). I rarely use ATMs because merchants seem to prefer UPI over cash, and when I have used ATMs, it has been with my Indian debit card.
6. What English-language religious services are available locally?
I believe there are a few English -anguage church services, but I'm not sure about other options.
7. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Prior to coming to post, I was not given the option to learn any of the local languages (Telugu or Hindi). I’ve been able to function fine in English, though a basic understanding of either Telugu or Hindi would have been extremely helpful.
8. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yes, the lack of sidewalks and ramps would make it quite difficult to function.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
There is a metro, but there is a real issue with last mile accessibility to the metro, so having a car is necessary unless you want to rely on Uber or Ola. Uber/Ola is sometimes difficult to book during rush hour or to go to certain heavily trafficked areas.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
I bought a car from another individual at post. It's a pretty standard issue Maruti Suzuki. I like it because there are Suzuki repair shops all over the place, so if you have an issue, you'll be able to get it fixed. I also like it because it is small, so easier to drive in the traffic, and I'm fine with it getting scraped. I've never worried about carjacking. If you want a car, I recommend getting it here, as it will be affordable and will have the steering wheel on the right (which is required in India).
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes, and it was installed when I arrived.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
It can be difficult to get the plan set up at first because there appear to be increased information requirements for individuals seeking a SIM card. It can be helpful to have something like Google Fi to tide you over until you're able to get your in-country SIM set up.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Vets are definitely available and are super affordable. Unsure about the other answers.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Seems like some work in the consulate and some work for their companies if the companies have offices here in Hyderabad. It can be difficult to telework because of the time difference.
2. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
There are definitely volunteer opportunities to work with orphans, but I'm not sure of others.
3. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Business casual at work (some folks skew more on the casual side of this and it seems fine). Women wear a mix of Western and Indian clothing. Formal dress is rarely required.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
None that I'm aware of. I've always felt safe.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
You might face typical India GI issues but medical care is very affordable and generally good quality. This is a medical tourism destination. Not sure what requires medevac.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Since I've been here the quality seems to have been moderate. It's definitely worse than DC but usually better than other Indian cities. Air quality can cause sinus issues more frequently.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
You'll need to be very careful about figuring out what is in things. it's not always clear, especially depending on where you go.
5. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
Some people get depressed because this is a visa mill and there isn't as much to do in Hyderabad as there would be in a capital city.
6. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
It's a decently warm to hot, dry climate most of the year. Rains during monsoon season.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
The Americans are the biggest expat community. Increasingly more expats may be here for jobs (e.g., there are Koreans who work at the Hyundai office). Haven't seen any other diplomats except the occasional British commercial attache. I've often wished there were more expats here, as it can feel like your bubble with the Americans is pretty small.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Hyderabad is not the most happening city in India, but there is still plenty to do. I’ve been to craft workshops at cafes, monthly wine society dinners, weekend group readings in the park, a salsa dance night, and a qawwali. You can meet local people, who are generally super friendly, at any of these events. There are also plenty of cocktail bars, craft breweries, and new restaurants to try. If you follow local businesses on Instagram and monitor BookMyShow, then you can usually find something going on. The main downside for me is there are few to no opportunities to see any theatre shows in English or to hear live non-Indian music.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Dating apps work here and there are plenty of events (see my answer above on social life) where you can meet other single people. There are probably, on average, fewer single people here than there would be in an American city due to the high pressure on individuals to get married in their 20s, but it’s not impossible to find other singles to hang out with. Can't speak to the experience of couples and families.
4. Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
If you're willing to go beyond the consulate community and find folks through the social experiences mentioned above, then yes, you'll be able to make friends.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Queer dating can happen on the normal dating apps in Hyderabad. There are also queer events in Hyderabad, though, like in most cities, they are primarily targeted toward gay men. There are also occasional drag shows and more inclusive queer events. Places like the Moberra Foundation and QT Centre offer some queer support groups and services, though primarily focused on the local community. Instagram is the best way to stay on top of what is happening in queer Hyderabad.
For trans or nonbinary folks, the situation could be complicated: on one hand, there is a long history of a third gender existing in India in the form of hijras, and on some government documents (like the Indian visa application) selecting a third gender is allowed. On the other hand, hijras are quite marginalized in today’s India and many have to resort to begging to make a living. Gender affirming medical services seem to be available, but inclusion of trans people in broader society has a long way to go.
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
Racial and gender issues of course exist here, but I have not experienced anything myself.
7. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
The airport is easily accessible and there are cheap flights on offer for all over India. It's easy to do weekend trips anywhere in India, and my favorite trips so far have been to Kerala and Goa.
8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Can definitely get good pearl and gold jewelry here. There are also handicrafts available from other parts of India.
9. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
It's easy to travel out of Hyderabad, it's very affordable in Hyderabad, and the people are generally quite friendly. The housing is also great.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
UPI will be a necessity and setting up a SIM may take a while.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Definitely.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
winter coats.
4. But don't forget your:
open mind.
5. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
India after Gandhi
