[Sudheer Poppa]

Everyone loves a good bargain. This weakness of ours keeps us waiting for that perfect deal to fall into our laps. But little do we realise that living in India itself is one of the greatest deals one can ask for. Now, don’t be surprised. We are not talking about our slightly inflated economy, which is currently on the Bull Run. Rather we are trying to figure out how even some simple exercises like reading or flying around the world can make us feel lucky about being in India.

..

Atul Ahuja, director, Flemingo Duty Free Shop, points out, “Shopping in India is at its infancy stage. We want our customers to spend money here and not abroad.” The best deals can be got on liquor, tobacco, confectioneries and perfumes. “The price of liquor is comparatively 10-20% cheaper here, tobacco is 33-50% less dear and you can get a flat rebate of 10% on confectioneries and perfumes compared to places like UK and the US,” reveals Ahuja. For instance if a carton of Marlboro cigarettes cost about $44 abroad, you can buy it at one third, that is, about $13 here. So the next time your better half pokes you for that posh Chanel bottle, just smile and oblige. It doesn’t come any cheaper.

...

A heart bypass surgery can be performed for as low as $5,000 in India as compared to $30,000-$60,000 in the US. A spinal fusion operation costs about $8,000 in India against $42,000-$76,000 in the US. Again, a hip replacement surgery costs $5,000 in India as compared to $31000-$44,000 in the US. It is the same case with angioplasty with stent at $6,000 in India and $33,000-$49,000 in the West, points out Dr Sanjiv Malik, regional director, Max Healthcare, New Delhi

Read more at this link