Zen energy over $250K Microsoft job: Why young techies are ditching US jobs for India

Imagine earning $250,000 (Rs 2 crore) a year, working for Microsoft in the US, and thinking... "I could actually live better somewhere else." Sounds wild, right? But that's what Ujjwal Chadha, an Indian developer, did, and his story might just explain why so many young Indians are rethinking the dream of working abroad.

Chadha worked at Microsoft in the US for over three years. By anyone's standards, $250K is a huge salary. But here's the catch: in Seattle, it felt 'comfortable' at best.

Rent, frozen dinners, two-hour commutes and no family around made life feel expensive and lonely.

Hence, he made the bold move to quit his job, got a remote role in India and moved back home, and this turned out to be a life-changing moment for Chadha. And his quality of life? Totally transformed.

• Purchasing power on steroids: In India, even a fraction of a US salary goes a lot further. Living in his family home, Chadha cut rent by 80 per cent and said his savings rate hit 90 per cent. Suddenly, what seemed like a normal pay cheque in Seattle became 'dynasty wealth' in Delhi.
• Time, family and house help: Loneliness and long commutes were gone for Chadha. Now instead of frozen dinners, he enjoys chai with his parents every evening. Plus, he has a cook and a driver, giving him time to focus on hobbies and self-growth.
• Bye-bye Visa anxiety: Working in the US often comes with a constant worry about visas. But moving back to India eliminated that stress and let him focus on building products and exploring personal ideas.

“I didn’t step down. I stepped up,” Chadha wrote on his X post.

Well, Chadha's story isn't unique or new. In recent times, increasingly, young Indians are returning home after stints abroad or skipping the US or Europe dream entirely, but why?

Some of the major reasons are:

• Cost of living mismatch: $100K+ in the US may only feel like a 'comfortable' salary, while in India, it can translate into significant wealth.
• Remote work makes it possible: with companies offering remote roles, Gen Z doesn't have to move abroad to access high-paying jobs.
• Work-life balance: Long travel hours, expensive rents and loneliness abroad push people to look for happiness over a big pay cheque.

Turns out, the dream of working in the US isn't as dreamy as it used to be. With H-1B visa uncertainty making life abroad stressful, more Indian techies are packing their travel bags and heading home.

A LinkedIn date shows a 40 per cent jump in professionals updating their location in Q3 2025, which is a serious reverse migration trend.



While for Gen Z, it is proof that chasing big salaries abroad isn't the only path to success. Sometimes, this is the best career move that brings you closer to family, a better lifestyle and zero visa drama.