When you earn ₹90 lakh a year in the US, people assume you’ve made it. Life’s good, right? Big paycheck, fancy zip code, Instagrammable vacations. But beneath the surface, there's a growing tribe of NRIs who are quietly reevaluating everything—from green cards and job security to dusty roots back home. CA Nitin Kaushik shared that a cousin of his picked up the phone last week and asked a question that’s becoming increasingly common that if he moves back to India with a Rs 85L CTC, will life feel like a downgrade?
What does Rs 85L get you in India today? A surprisingly good life, according to him. Here’s his breakdown
Housing
As per the CA, a spacious 2BHK or a compact 3BHK in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, or Delhi NCR will set you back around Rs 60K–Rs 85K per month in rent. That's for prime, well-connected areas—not compromises.
Kids’ Education
Top-tier private schools affiliated with boards like ICSE, CBSE, or IB charge anywhere from Rs 2.5L–Rs 5L annually per child. Add in extra-curriculars and school trips, and it still feels affordable compared to US tuition nightmares, he shares
Healthcare
With decent insurance and out-of-pocket expenses like regular checkups and diagnostics, a family of three should budget around Rs 1.5L per year.
Lifestyle & Travel
Two dinners out a week, one or two international vacations, weekend getaways, gadgets, festive shopping—it all comes to roughly Rs 6– Rs 8L annually. You won’t be holding back.
Domestic Help
A full-time cook, maid, and occasional driver? Rs 2.5–Rs 3.5L per year. That kind of daily support is almost unimaginable in the US unless you're in the 1%.
But is this sustainable?
The CA answers that with an Rs 85L CTC, take-home after taxes, provident fund, and deductions typically land around Rs 55–Rs 58L annually. Now, if your annual lifestyle outflow is Rs 40–Rs 45L, you still save Rs 10–Rs 12L per year, with zero compromise on comfort.
On the flip side, according to the CA, the AQI may affect the lungs, the patchy infrastructure and curious neighbours may feel like a bit of a challenge. But, he points out that on the bright side, almost everything can be delivered to the doorstep. NRIs who are planning to move to India will be able to afford human help here, and as for jobs, the startups, fintech and real estate market is booming.
It’s not a downgrade—it’s a reset
What many NRIs are starting to realise is that moving back doesn’t have to mean giving up on a dream—it can mean rewriting it. In the US, life may feel safe but isolated. In India, there’s chaos—but also connection. The comfort of being close to family. The freedom to raise children with your values. The peace of mind that you’re not just surviving a system, but thriving in one that feels familiar.
What does Rs 85L get you in India today? A surprisingly good life, according to him. Here’s his breakdown
Housing
As per the CA, a spacious 2BHK or a compact 3BHK in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, or Delhi NCR will set you back around Rs 60K–Rs 85K per month in rent. That's for prime, well-connected areas—not compromises.
Kids’ Education
Top-tier private schools affiliated with boards like ICSE, CBSE, or IB charge anywhere from Rs 2.5L–Rs 5L annually per child. Add in extra-curriculars and school trips, and it still feels affordable compared to US tuition nightmares, he shares
Healthcare
With decent insurance and out-of-pocket expenses like regular checkups and diagnostics, a family of three should budget around Rs 1.5L per year.
Lifestyle & Travel
Two dinners out a week, one or two international vacations, weekend getaways, gadgets, festive shopping—it all comes to roughly Rs 6– Rs 8L annually. You won’t be holding back.
Domestic Help
A full-time cook, maid, and occasional driver? Rs 2.5–Rs 3.5L per year. That kind of daily support is almost unimaginable in the US unless you're in the 1%.
So, is moving back a step down?
— CA Nitin Kaushik (@Finance_Bareek) June 29, 2025
Not at all. It’s a mindset shift.
It’s not “leaving the dream.”
It’s rewriting it with your people, your roots, and more peace of mind.
Because sometimes, you don’t need to cross oceans to feel secure.
All you need is a strong foundation at…
But is this sustainable?
The CA answers that with an Rs 85L CTC, take-home after taxes, provident fund, and deductions typically land around Rs 55–Rs 58L annually. Now, if your annual lifestyle outflow is Rs 40–Rs 45L, you still save Rs 10–Rs 12L per year, with zero compromise on comfort.
On the flip side, according to the CA, the AQI may affect the lungs, the patchy infrastructure and curious neighbours may feel like a bit of a challenge. But, he points out that on the bright side, almost everything can be delivered to the doorstep. NRIs who are planning to move to India will be able to afford human help here, and as for jobs, the startups, fintech and real estate market is booming.
It’s not a downgrade—it’s a reset
What many NRIs are starting to realise is that moving back doesn’t have to mean giving up on a dream—it can mean rewriting it. In the US, life may feel safe but isolated. In India, there’s chaos—but also connection. The comfort of being close to family. The freedom to raise children with your values. The peace of mind that you’re not just surviving a system, but thriving in one that feels familiar.
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