Background: Street selling is a vital part of the informal economy of metropolitan India, where it provides a living for millions of people. However, street vendors often face financial, social, and psychological challenges that affect their resilience and quality of life (QOL) due to their unofficial status.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the psychological fortitude and standard of living of Lucknow street vendors according to the kinds of products they offer. Additionally, it investigated the ways in which their work environment, stall ownership, and income affect their well-being.

Methodology: The research design that was employed was descriptive. Standardized instruments, such as the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) for psychological resilience and the WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life, were used to gather data from 150 street sellers in Lucknow. Random sampling with multiple stages was used. SPSS (version 20) was used to analyze the data, and correlation, t-tests, F-tests, frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were applied.

Results: The results showed that the type of goods sold had a statistically significant impact on resilience (F = 3.200, p = 0.015), with merchants offering mobile covers reporting the highest resilience scores. Nonetheless, there were no statistically significant variations between product categories in the physical, psychological, social, and environmental QOL domains. All four QOL dimensions were shown to be significantly and positively correlated with resilience, with the social domain showing the largest correlation (r = 0.498, p < 0.01), according to correlation analysis.

Conclusion: The study emphasizes the value of psychological resilience in raising street sellers' general standard of living. Economic stability—specifically, average daily income and safe vending locations—was found to be a significant determinant of resilience and wellbeing. In order to improve the lives of this vulnerable group, customized policy interventions that emphasize stall ownership, economic stability, and vendor support services are crucial.