‘My savings rate hit 90%’: Former Microsoft techie on why moving back to India was a life upgrade

Chadha, who was working as a developer at Microsoft in the US, quit his job and returned to India to work remotely. What may appear to be a downgrade at first glance turned out to be quite the opposite.

“It changed my life for the better,” Chadha says.

After moving back to Delhi, Chadha claims his quality of life improved significantly, with his savings rate touching 90 per cent and his rent dropping by nearly 80 per cent compared to his time in Seattle.

“In Seattle, $250,000 is ‘comfortable’. In Delhi, it’s ‘dynasty wealth’—a family house,” Chadha wrote in a post on X, explaining how a high income abroad failed to translate into a fulfilling lifestyle.

According to Chadha, returning to India freed him from constant visa anxiety, allowing him to focus entirely on building products and pursuing his own ideas.

“I didn’t step down. I stepped up. I didn’t leave the US to retire. I left to actually live,” he said, describing his relocation as a life upgrade rather than a compromise.

On the personal front, Chadha says he feels far more connected after returning home. Living closer to family helped him overcome loneliness abroad and enjoy everyday moments, including evening tea with his parents.

“The ‘time dividend’: no more lonely winters, no more frozen dinners, no more two-hour commutes on the 101,” he wrote, adding, “I have a cook. I have a driver. I have time—yes, and I pay them well.”

Chadha shared his story amid growing concerns among Indians living in the US, particularly in the backdrop of tightening visa rules under the Trump administration.

The US has paused or slowed immigrant visa issuance for applicants from several countries, while visa backlogs have grown due to stricter and lengthier verification processes.

Enhanced social media scrutiny and changes to H-1B visa rules, including higher application fees, have further complicated pathways for many Indian professionals.