New Delhi, Sep 2 - Delhi is the most affluent city across India followed by Bangalore and Greater Mumbai, a recent survey says.

The Nielsen Upper Middle and Rich (UMAR) survey was conducted across 35 Indian cities and covered 18,250 affluent individuals. It used a new method of defining 'affluence' that is based on lifestyle and consumer durables' ownership of a household rather than factors like monthly income, education and others.

The other seven in the list of top 10 affluent cities are Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Pune, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.

According to the survey, 'The affluent individuals work out at gyms, visit spas and beauty parlors and for them shopping is a craze.'

The survey estimated India has a total of 2.5 million affluent households, of whom 2.2 million belong to the Upper Middle segment - households that own a car and a computer - but without an LCD or a holiday abroad.

Upper-Upper Middle segment consists of some 200,000 households and are the owners of a car, a computer, an LCD but miss a holiday abroad.

The Rich segment makes up about 100,000 households in the affluent pie, all owners of a car, a computer, an LCD and holidayers abroad.

The survey revealed that even though nearly half of affluent Indian consumers received schooling in English, they spoke at home regional Indian languages.

'English is the preferred language for newspapers but television is tuned more in regional languages.