Many NRIs who live in the United States often ask one question: how much money is enough to move back to India?
Hemant Pandey, a former Meta techie who returned to India after living in the US for eight years, recently shared his thoughts on this issue. Speaking on a podcast with career coach Pritesh Jagani, Pandey said he and his wife are happier in India mainly because of the social life and family connections.
Pandey said one of the reasons he decided to leave the US was the restrictive nature of the H-1B visa. Though there is a huge salary gap between the US and India, he said he would still choose India over other countries such as Canada or European nations.
According to him, the US is the best place for career growth, high earnings and savings. But for personal happiness and long-term life, India remains his second choice. He admitted that he misses the blue skies and blue oceans of the US, but he is happier in India overall.
Pandey had also started creating content while working in the US. However, as an H-1B visa holder, he was not allowed to monetise that content. This became one of the reasons behind his decision to return to India.
Pandey moved to the US in 2016 to pursue a master’s degree in Computer Science. His first job was at Tesla. He was selected in the H-1B lottery in his first attempt but was later laid off from Tesla. He then found another job, where he was again selected for an H-1B visa and the company also started processing his Green Card application.
In December 2024, Pandey returned to India and continued working remotely for Meta for a few months. Later, he took a career break, went on vacation and eventually joined LinkedIn in Bengaluru.
Speaking about the “return to India” fund, Pandey said there is no fixed amount that applies to everyone. It depends on each person’s situation, including whether they have parents in India, whether they have children and what kind of lifestyle they want.
He said NRIs should not blindly chase a particular figure or become obsessed with one amount. For some people, even Rs 5 crore may not be enough if they want to send their children to international schools or buy a villa in India.
Pandey said he had a target amount in mind and moved back only after reaching that figure. He did not disclose the amount but said he had set aside money to buy property in a Tier-1 city in India.
He also made it clear that neither he nor his wife planned to retire after returning to India. So, their savings were only a safety cushion, in addition to the income they would continue earning in India.
According to Pandey, earning even one-third of a US salary in India can be good enough for NRIs who are seriously planning to move back.
He also advised NRIs not to focus only on money. Instead of chasing a fixed amount forever, he said they should decide a date by which they want to return, because making that decision is often harder than saving money.
Life In India Vs US
Speaking about life in the US, Pandey said it can feel boring because people often do not know their neighbours. The work culture is also different, as colleagues usually do not hang out after office the way they do in India.
He said life in the US can become repetitive, with people doing the same things every day. While this gives time for self-improvement and introspection, it can also feel lonely.
In contrast, life in India is chaotic but more socially active. He said house help, 10-minute delivery services and family support save a lot of time. Though some of that saved time may go into office travel, he still feels happier in India.
Most importantly, Pandey said he no longer has to apply for a visa just to meet his parents. For him, that emotional freedom is one of the biggest benefits of returning home.
