Top 10 things that are worth buying from India when living abroad

This post showcases the top 10 things that non-resident Indians living abroad can buy from India at a cost-effective price as compared to purchasing them in a foreign country. The prices of goods can vary widely depending on many factors such as location, brand, and quality. Although, the shipping cost is a big overhead when the shipment is consolidated with many different products the overall shipment becomes much more value-adding and cost-effective. Based on general trends and the cost of living between countries, here are ten things that are often more cost-effective to buy in India than in a foreign country for NRIs living abroad:

1. Clothing & Jewelry: Clothing and fabrics such as silk, cashmere, and cotton are often less expensive in India than abroad, and they may be of higher quality and more varied styles. This is because the cost of living and wages in India are generally lower than abroad, which can translate to lower prices for goods and services. Additionally, ethnic wear is often more readily available in India, and the quality of the fabric, stitching, embellishments, and selection may be wider and more varied than abroad. Also, tailoring services come at a very low price point due to the availability of many experienced tailors. Coming to accessories, India is known for its intricate and beautiful gold and silver jewelry, whether it is imitation jewelry or precious metals it is more affordable and value for money to purchase jewelry in India than abroad. You can shop from top Indian brands and retailers on their online stores or e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, AJIO, and many more.
2. Pooja Mandir & Pooja Samagri: The cost of purchasing a pooja mandir (a small temple or shrine used for worship in Hindu households) can vary widely depending on the size, materials used, and level of craftsmanship. However, in general, it is cheaper to purchase a pooja mandir from India than abroad for NRIs. This is because the cost of labor and materials in India is generally lower than abroad. Additionally, there is often a wider selection of pooja mandirs available in India, ranging from simple and affordable options to more elaborate and expensive designs. Additionally, pooja items such as pooja ghanti, decorations, peethas, brass items, god idols, thalis, diyas, and other materials essential for pooja are of better quality, lower cost, and fully customizable in India than abroad. You can shop for these items on PepperFry or WoodenStreet website.
3. Food Items: There are several non-perishable food items that are tastier and more cost-effective to purchase from India. India is famous for its flavorful spices (turmeric, jeera, mustard, pepper, cardamom, bay leaf, and cumin) and seasonings, and they are often less expensive and fresher in India. Indian lentils and legumes, such as chana dal, moong dal, and urad dal, are commonly used in Indian cuisine and are more cost-effective to purchase from India. India is known for its tea production, and many types of Indian tea, such as Assam tea and Darjeeling tea, are more cost-effective to purchase from India. Coffee is abundant in India with several top brands like Bru, Nescafe, and Lavazza selling high-quality coffee beans at low prices. Indian snacks, such as boondi, chips, namkeen, bhujia, and sev, are often less expensive in India than abroad. Indian pickles, such as mango pickles, chicken pickles, and lime pickles, are commonly used as condiments and may be more cost-effective to purchase from India. Indian sweets, such as rasgulla, gulab jamun, kaju barfi, mysore pak, and peda, are popular desserts and are less expensive in India than abroad. Ghee, a type of clarified butter commonly used in Indian cooking, is more cost effective to purchase from India. Some Indian companies produce ready-to-eat meals, such as instant noodles like Maggi Noodles or Ching’s Noodles, and curries like Palak Paneer, Dal Makhani, Paneer Butter Masala, Butter Chicken, that is more cost-effective to purchase from India. Indian masala mixes, such as sambar powder and garam masala, chat masala, and red chili powder, are more fresh and cost-effective to purchase from India. You can shop from top Indian brands and retailers on their online stores or e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart.
4. Cookware: Indian cookware is known for its resiliency and durability in cooking. Cooking utensils such as pressure cookers, mixer grinders, tawa pans, and other stainless steel items are available in plenty of variety from different brands and at a lower price than abroad since they are manufactured in India. You can shop from top Indian brands and retailers on their online stores or e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart.
5. Home decor & Handicrafts: India is known for its vibrant and unique home decor items such as textiles, rugs, wall hangings (Buddha painting, Ganesh painting, goddess Durga framed picture), god idols (Ganesha idol, Krishna idol, Shiva idol) and they are often more affordable in India than abroad. Handicrafts such as pottery, sculptures, dolls (Navratri gollu dolls, toys like trucks, cars, and turtles), and carvings are often made by skilled artisans in India and can be less expensive there than abroad. You can shop from top Indian brands and retailers on their online stores or e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, ECraftIndia, UrbanLadder
6. Furniture: Custom-made furniture and home furnishings such as curtains and bedding made of different materials like cotton, silk, etc can often be purchased for less in India than abroad. You can shop from top Indian brands and retailers on their online stores or e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart,  UrbanLadder.
7. Musical instruments: India has a rich musical tradition, and it is more affordable to purchase instruments such as sitars and tablas in India than abroad. You can shop from top Indian brands and retailers on their online stores or e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart.
8. Ayurvedic products: Ayurvedic products such as herbal supplements, massage oils, hair oils, and skincare products are popular in India and are less expensive. You can shop from top Indian brands and retailers on their online stores or e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, KeralaAyurveda.
9. Books: From famous novels to religious epics, you can find reprints of books and literature at low prices in India. You can shop from top Indian brands and retailers on their online stores or e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart.
10. Prescription Medicine & Eye Glasses: In India, you don’t need a doctor’s permission to buy prescription medicine. This and the lower healthcare costs make prescription medicine much cheaper in India. Compared to countries abroad, India has a very low cost of eyeglasses. In most places, you do not need a prescription to purchase a pair and also can try out the glasses on online websites (Lenskart) using 3D tryout software.

How can you shop from India while you’re abroad?

Shoppin’s personal shopper will assist you in getting your favorite items from India to your doorstep abroad. Simply visit their website Shoppin, contact them over WhatsApp, and provide the required details, such as your name, and address.

Next, whatsApp the details of the product(s) you wish to purchase, including the name, brand, size, and color, or ask us for recommendations. You can shop for a range of products like ethnic wear (lehengas, shararas, suits, kurtas, sherwanis), snacks (murukku, biscuits, chips), sweets (kaju barfi, laddoo, peda), pickles, podis, god idols, wall art, ayurvedic medicines, cookware (pressure cooker, mixy, kadai, pans), pooja mandir, pooja items and much more from local stores or online e-commerce websites.

Shoppin will then purchase the product(s) on your behalf, consolidate them and ship them to your country of residence. Shoppin will handle all aspects of the purchase, including communication with the seller, providing recommendations, payment, and shipping. They will also provide you with a tracking number so you can track your shipment.

Isn’t it simple? Don’t wait anymore, get your personal shopper and shop your favorite item from India today!

THE END.