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Journalism of Courage
Could life feel more comfortable even if you earn less? An American woman living in India has sparked conversation online by highlighting how daily life in India can be far easier on the pocket compared to the United States.
Kristen Fischer, who regularly shares her experiences of living in India on Instagram, explained why she prefers life here. “Why would I want to live in India and not the USA? I will tell you why,” she wrote. While acknowledging that Americans typically earn more, she pointed out that “the cost of things is far higher proportionally in the USA than they are in India.”
In her post, Fischer broke down the cost of everyday expenses. A simple haircut, for example, can cost $15-$50 in the US but only $1.20-$2.50 in India, making it “10 to 20 times cheaper.” WiFi? Around $80 per month in the US versus just $8 in India. Movie tickets, doctor visits, utility bills, and even mobile phone plans are all drastically cheaper, with some services costing just a fraction of what they would back home.
“Honestly, there are so many more examples of things that are more affordable in India than they are in the US, and even though we are making less money living here in India, we can live far better on the money that we do make,” Fischer added.
Her insights have resonated widely, with many agreeing that India offers a surprisingly good balance between cost and quality of life. A user wrote, “Welcome !! The food in the restaurants is also cheaper. Public transport is also cheaper in India when compared with USA. You may make one more post where these and other points can be added.”
Another user commented, “You have a very positive perspective. Many others (*including* Indians who’ve lived abroad for a bit & returned) only whine about the downsides.”
A third person wrote, “The best hack in life is earn in USA and spend in India. That’s why many Indians have been migrating, earning and coming back after 10 to 15 years.” A fourth individual commented, “You forgot one of the most important expenditure that’s much cheaper in India compared to the US, and especially since you have 4 young kids, the domestic help. Most middle class families in the US can’t really afford to have cleaners etc on a daily basis in the US. Do correct me if I’m wrong.”
