India or the US: Fintech professional’s social media post comparing living costs triggers debate
Gera argued that earning Rs 25 lakh annually in India is equivalent to earning Rs 70–75 lakh in the U.S., citing purchasing power parity (PPP) as the key factor. She emphasized that this perspective shifts the entire narrative around income and lifestyle.
Hyderabad: Given the craze for many Indians to migrate to the United States, the question of is life better in India or in the US has been a long-standing debate. A LinkedIn post by fintech professional Shivani Gera, for the same reason, has gone viral on social media.
Gera wanted to say that if one was earning Rs.25 lakh per annum in India, that was like earning Rs.70 lakh to Rs.75 lakh in the US. Attributing this to purchasing power parity (PPP), she claimed this changed everything.
“If you’re earning Rs 25 LPA in India, that’s like earning Rs 70-75 LPA in the US. It’s due to Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) – and it changes everything. Because it’s not just what you earn, it’s what that money lets you afford,” she said.
Going on, she gave her own version of how this worked out, and reasoned that in India, Rs.25 LPA gave one a lifestyle most people abroad pay a fortune for.
“ A good home, meals out, convenience services, even help at home – without burning out. So next time someone flexes a dollar salary, ask this: What’s their lifestyle really like? Because in the real world, how far your money goes matters way more than how big the number looks,” she said, also adding that however, her figures did not factor in tax deductions.
But even if there were deductions, the core point still stands, she argued, reiterating that PPP wasn’t about precise math, but about relative cost of living.
Her post triggered mass reactions, literally, with more than 300 people responding to the post on LinkedIn, while several hundreds responded to wherever the same was shared.
“To be honest, this comparison doesn’t really make sense. I’ve seen many people working abroad in the US or Europe, and they’re way ahead of us in terms of savings. My landlord, for example, lives in the US and owns three flats in Bangalore. So if you ever get the opportunity to move to the US, don’t think twice—just go. What you might save in 5 years here, you’ll probably save there in just 1–2 years,” was how one responded.
Another netizen, a United States resident, partially agreed.
“Even though taxes are high in the U.S., let’s assume we save about 50% in India after all expenses, which amounts to Rs.12.5 lakhs. In the U.S., we might save around 35%, which equals Rs.26.25 lakhs. Even then, we have a profit of Rs.13.75 lakhs — and this is a conservative estimate. Then, the work culture in the U.S. and India is completely different. It’s well known that in India, employees often work beyond regular hours, whereas in the U.S., that is generally not the case,” he said.
“We often chase the currency without questioning the capacity it offers. Rs.25 LPA in India isn’t just a figure—it’s access to time, convenience, comfort, and quality of life that many abroad can’t afford without serious trade-offs. It’s not about how much you earn—it’s about how much life your money can buy,” said another.
The debate is still on. What is your take?
Shivani Gera’s comparison:
• Dining out for two
India: Rs 500-Rs 1000 US: Rs 2,000-Rs 3000
• 1BHK apartment rent (metro city)
India: Rs 45,000–Rs 55,000/month | US: Rs 1.5–2 lakh/month ($1,800–2,400)
• Monthly internet
India: Rs 700 | US: Rs 6,000 ($70)
• Full-time domestic help
India: Rs 12,000/month | US: Rs 1.8–2.2 lakh/month ($2,200 )
Here’s her original post:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shivanigera30_purchasingpowerparity-costofliving-economics-activity-7329095300512436224-x-b7?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAIEvGMBo8vvAb5sYjRlce9b6ciV6jjwPV8
