'A hug from parents costs Rs 1.5 lakh': CA points out the hidden cost of life outside India
He begins by addressing the emotional cost. Loneliness, he writes, is a silent tax you pay every day. Festivals lose their warmth, family dinners become video calls, and you blow out birthday candles alone. "A simple hug from parents costs a 15-hour flight and a Rs 1.5 lakh ticket,' Kaushik laments.
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He then turns to a detail many Indians take for granted: domestic help. In India, a maid is often a part of daily life. Abroad? Be ready to wash, clean, and cook—often after a full day's work. And if you try to outsource it? Prepare to shell out $25 to $50 an hour.
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Kaushik also takes a hard look at healthcare, calling it 'a highway to bankruptcy.' An ambulance ride can cost over Rs 80,000, and even basic tests can leave a dent in your wallet. 'In India, quality healthcare is still within reach for the middle class,' he notes.
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Racism, too, isn't left out. Whether subtle or direct, Kaushik says it exists through judgments based on skin tone, accents, or cultural identity. For those raising children abroad, Kaushik highlights the cultural dilemma. Indian values often clash with Western lifestyles, leaving kids caught between two worlds. 'In India, sanskaar comes naturally from the environment,' he says.
Even the financial freedom that often lures people abroad isn't without caveats. 'You earn in dollars, but you spend in dollars too,' Kaushik warns. Every outing, meal, or activity adds up quickly, whereas in India, he argues, a moderate income can offer a royal lifestyle.
He ends with a stark contrast many overseas Indians relate to: identity. No matter how long you live abroad, the question 'Where are you originally from?' never quite disappears. 'In India, you are, and always will be—Apna.'
His final thought? 'Living abroad gives money. Living in India gives meaning.'
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