Latest news with #ShubhamChakraborty
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Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Friend gets Rs 80 lakh in US salary? You can live it up in India for less
The distant cousin succeeding in his American dream is the dinner table talk of Indian families. The conservation could be something like: 'My cousin in the US makes Rs 80 lakh a year. I wish I earned that much.' Delhi-based researcher Shubham Chakraborty has challenged such assumptions in a Linkedin post that has gone viral. 'Next time your friend in the US says he earns Rs 80 lakh, remind them that you only need Rs 23 lakh in India to live the same lifestyle,' Chakraborty wrote on the professional networking website. The statement isn't just casual social media wisdom, but grounded in an economic concept called purchasing power parity (PPP). It compares the cost of living and tells you how much income you'd need in one country to afford the same standard of living in another. Rs 20.38 in India is equal to one international dollar, according to International Monetary Fund's data for this year, In the US, $1 = $1 international dollar So, if you're earning Rs 23 lakh in India, that's roughly equal to $112,850 in real PPP terms. It means your rupee buys a lot more here than the same number of dollars does in the US. Breaking down Rs 80 lakh Chakraborty illustrates his point with relatable expenses by attaching a screenshot of another post by Nithin Kaushik, a chartered accountant. The costs show why headline salaries can be misleading without factoring in the cost of living. But money isn't everything PPP isn't the only factor though, according to Chakraborty's post. The US offers better infrastructure, public services, and career exposure. Quality of life, social benefits, and long-term prospects can vary Still, if you're comparing offers across borders or just making peace with your current paycheck, PPP gives much-needed context.


News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
This LinkedIn Post Just Ended The Dollar Vs Rupee Lifestyle Debate
Last Updated: Shubham Chakraborty questioned the hype around NRIs flaunting big salaries abroad. Think you need to earn dollars to live the good life? Maybe not. Shubham Chakraborty, a Delhi-based researcher, argues that an annual income of Rs 23 lakhs in India can deliver a lifestyle on par with someone earning Rs 80 lakhs in the US. In a thought-provoking post that's gaining traction online, he calls out the obsession with foreign salaries, urging Indian professionals to consider context, like cost of living, taxation, and local comforts, before glorifying the NRI paycheck. 'Next time your cousin/friend who has settled in the US says he makes Rs 80 Lakhs a year, tell them you only need Rs 23 Lakhs to match their lifestyle in India," he shared his perspective on LinkedIn, spotlighting the impact of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in understanding real income and lifestyle value across countries. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, the PPP ratio between India and the US is over 3:1, lending credibility to Chakraborty's argument. To support his point, he provided direct cost comparisons: a meal that costs Rs 300 in India might be Rs 1,700 in the US; internet bills rise from Rs 700 to Rs 6,000; and rent for a comparable home jumps from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.6 lakh. Chakraborty also recognised that PPP has its limits. 'Developed countries often have better public services, technology, and opportunities. They may also offer better social security," he also mentioned in his now-viral post. Meanwhile, economists reportedly agree that PPP isn't a perfect measure. It assumes that goods and services are of equal quality across countries, which often isn't the case. Furthermore, healthcare, education, and legal protections are said to differ widely from country to country. On top of that, personal factors—like where you live or your family's needs—can greatly impact both the cost and quality of life. Additionally, PPP also has its flaws. It's reportedly based on large surveys that might be less accurate in developing countries and often overlook details like local services or infrastructure quality. Still, Chakraborty's post resonated with many, sparking fresh conversations about what 'earning more" truly means when viewed through a global lens.


India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
Dollar dream vs reality: Why Rs 80 lakh in US salary not as big as it sounds
Have you ever felt tempted by the big paycheques your relatives or friends boast about after moving abroad? A recent LinkedIn post by a Shubham Chakraborty, an upcoming author, has sparked a fresh conversation about whether those impressive-sounding dollar salaries are really worth it when compared with life in wrote, "Next time your cousin/friend who has settled in the US says he makes Rs 80 lakhs a year, tell them you only need Rs 23 Lakhs to match their lifestyle in India. This is how Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) works." advertisementHe argued that one needs only Rs 23 Lakhs in India to match the lifestyle of someone earning Rs 80 Lakhs in the US, thanks to the concept of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). This perspective challenges the common notion that higher salaries abroad automatically translate to a better PPP PPP is a method used by economists to compare what money can actually buy in different countries. Instead of just converting currencies using exchange rates, PPP looks at local costs, like rent, food, internet bills, and other everyday instance, PPP compares what you can buy for a certain amount of money in India versus what the same amount can get you elsewhere, like in the further wrote, "Many people don't think about PPP when considering job offers or moving to another country. But it can be helpful. For example, if you have two job offers - one for 30 Lakhs rupees in India and another for 80 Lakhs rupees in the US - PPP can help you compare them fairly."advertisementHe shared everyday comparisons to explain the idea. For instance, a restaurant meal costing Rs 300 in India would cost Rs 1,700 in the US, while internet bills might increase from Rs 700 to Rs 6,000. Similarly, rent for comparable housing can jump from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.6 lakh. These comparisons reveal how costs can significantly vary, affecting the real value of a OF PPPWhile PPP offers valuable insights, Chakraborty acknowledged its limitations. He noted, "Developed countries often have better public services, technology, and opportunities. They may also offer better social security." Thus, while PPP is a helpful tool, it is not the sole consideration when evaluating job offers or contemplating moving concluded his post by saying that while PPP is a handy tool to understand real earnings, but it's not the only thing to think about. Before deciding to move abroad or pick a job offer, look at the full picture, including lifestyle, family needs, savings, and future goals.


Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Rs 50,000 rent in India but Rs 1.6 lakh in US: Why Delhi researcher is calling out the NRI salary flex
Shubham Chakraborty, a researcher based in Delhi, has started a viral debate on social media on NRIs flexing their salaries— questioning how Indian professionals often compare international paychecks without factoring in key differences like cost of living and purchasing power. "Next time your cousin/friend who has settled in the US says he makes Rs 80 Lakhs a year, tell them you only need Rs 23 Lakhs to match their lifestyle in India. This is how Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) works," said Chakraborty in a post on LinkedIn. Check full statement here: Next time your cousin/friend who has settled in the US says he makes Rs 80 Lakhs a year, tell them you only need Rs 23 Lakhs to match their lifestyle in India. This is how Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is a way to compare the value of money between different countries. It shows how much money you'd need in one country to buy the same things as in another people don't think about PPP when considering job offers or moving to another country. But it can be helpful. For example, if you have two job offers - one for 30 Lakhs rupees in India and another for 80 Lakhs rupees in the US - PPP can help you compare them PPP isn't the only thing to consider. Developed countries often have better public services, technology, and opportunities. They may also offer better social security. So, while PPP is useful, it's just one of many factors to consider when making decisions about jobs or moving abroad. India's Purchasing Power Parity: NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery said that the size of the Indian economy in the purchasing power parity (PPP) term is already USD 15 trillion, which is more than half the size of the US economy. The purchasing power parity (PPP) is the amount of currency units required to purchase a basket of goods and services that can be purchased with one unit of the reference economy's currency. "There has been a lot in the newspapers about our being the fourth largest economy. Those are all measured at market prices, but the real way of measuring productivity is purchasing power parity. "And while we are USD 4 trillion GDP at market prices, at PPP term, we are USD 15 trillion economy," Bery said while addressing the Annual Business Summit 2025 of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He said that economists tend to measure labour productivity at purchasing power parity as PPP measures the real size of the economy of countries against the size of the US economy.