Earning Big but Living Small: Techie’s Post on India's Quality of Life Goes Viral
A Reddit post by a 30-year-old man from Bengaluru has sparked widespread discussion. Despite he and his wife earning nearly ₹6 million annually, he questioned whether continuing to live in India was the right decision, citing concerns over the prevailing living conditions in the country. He expressed his distress over what he described as a mismatch between high income and the actual quality of life in India.
“Our financial situation looks good on paper. But when we consider the quality of life here, we wonder whether it is worth staying in India at all,” he stated in his post. He pointed to several issues such as poor infrastructure, heavy traffic congestion, inadequate healthcare services, and a rising cost of living.
The man, who resides in Horamavu, said it takes him 40 minutes to travel just 3 kilometers, leaving him exhausted by the time he reaches his office. He expressed frustration over the condition of the roads and the constant state of construction in the area.
He lamented that the substantial taxes they pay are not yielding any tangible benefits. “Thirty to forty percent of our income goes towards taxes. But what do we get in return? No free healthcare, no quality education, not even access to safe drinking water,” he said. He compared India with countries like Canada and Germany, noting that although taxes are high in those nations, citizens receive free education, healthcare, and better public transportation systems.
He further complained that the environment is plagued by dust, noise, stress, and road rage, making it impossible to enjoy a peaceful walk or breathe clean air. He shared that he feels afraid to let his wife go out alone after 7 p.m. due to safety concerns. While expenses continue to rise, incomes are not increasing proportionally, he observed.
“I want to serve this country and achieve something here. But the system here seems to be crushing the working class. It feels like the taxes we pay are going straight into the pockets of politicians. Is there any hope that things will change? Or am I just being naïve?” he asked.
The post went viral online, drawing numerous responses. Some users advised him to move abroad and settle down if given the opportunity. Others remarked that the situation is unlikely to improve soon, and while it may be difficult initially, enduring some hardship for the sake of better conditions for future generations would be worthwhile.