A U.S. based Non-Resident Indian (NRI) has sparked conversation online after sharing plans to move back to India following more than five years abroad, saying the decision feels right despite the financial trade-offs.
In a Reddit post that has since gone viral, titled “Moving back to India in mid-2026 after 5.5 years in the USA,” the 29-year-old explained that while a return home could mean accepting a lower pay package, the overall quality-of-life benefits of living in India made the choice worthwhile in his view.
“I’m a 29-year-old male in the Tri-State area, USA. I came to USA in Jan 2021 and graduated with my master’s in Dec 2022, worked on OPT, STEM OPT, and my H1B got approved in 2024,” the user wrote in the post.
In the post, he added that while he earned a solid income and had spent the past two-and-a-half years with the same employer, the cost of living in the U.S. Tri-State area had become increasingly hard to justify, ultimately nudging him toward a move back to India.
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Laying out the logistics behind the decision, the NRI wrote, “I’ll be moving back to India in mid-2026 because my employer offered me to work full-time on contract from India,” outlining one of the key factors that made the transition possible.
He noted that the shift would come with financial compromises. Moving back to India would mean a smaller pay check and giving up benefits like a 401(k) and health insurance. Even so, he said the revised compensation would still put him among the top one per cent of earners in India. As he wrote, “Lower than my US pay and without some perks (bonus, 401(k), health insurance), but still top 1% by Indian standards.”
“I haven’t saved aggressively (401k ~$13k), but I cleared my loans, have no debt, and spent money traveling and enjoying life—no regrets.” The NRI further writes, “Even if I work 3–5 years from India and something changes, I’ll have a cushion. The plan includes visiting the US twice a year for business trips which was suggested by my employer.”
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Reflecting on the trade-offs, he acknowledged the opportunity cost involved. “I know I’m giving up some US career potential and lifestyle perks, but this feels like the right decision for me personally,” he wrote, underscoring the personal reasons behind the move.
As the post went viral, many users praised him for choosing to return to India, with several others chiming in to say they were considering making a similar move themselves.
“All the best and you seem very content and satisfied with your choice,” wrote one user, while another commented, “You seem to have everything perfectly figured out brother go for it!! I think being close to family and friends and not worrying about visa is a blessing.”
Echoing his experience, one commenter wrote, “I’m on the same boat as you, came to the US in Jan 2021, and am planning on moving back to India mid next year. I wish I could get the contract position like you with my employer.”