Bengaluru techie earning Rs 90 lakh gets a nearly Rs 3 crore offer from US, estimates Rs 70 lakh savings per year, still confused seeks advice

A Bengaluru-based tech professional earning Rs 90 lakh per annum is weighing whether to remain in India or move to San Jose on a $300,000 (about Rs 2.8 crore) offer from the same startup, with his decision complicated by career growth, cost of living and the restrictions attached to an L-1 visa. The 36-year-old, who is married, has no loans or children, while his wife works part-time, sought advice on Reddit after researching the financial and professional implications of the move.

Bengaluru professional weighs Rs 90 lakh salary against $300,000 US offer

The professional said he has been working at the startup for around two years and would be transferred from its India operations to the US under an L-1 visa rather than an H-1B.

While the US salary is substantially higher in absolute rupee terms, he said he was not viewing the decision purely through currency conversion. He is currently earning Rs 90 lakh annually in Bengaluru and has been considering whether the potential career and lifestyle benefits of moving to the US would outweigh the financial advantages of staying in India.


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He said he felt his career had reached a point of saturation in Bengaluru and described his situation as “borderline lazy”, while questioning whether he had sufficient room for further professional growth there.

Man estimates $5,000-$6,000 monthly savings in San Jose

The professional said he had spoken to friends in the San Francisco region about moving to the US, but they did not encourage him to make the transition.

Despite that, he remained interested in experiencing the US professionally and personally. After researching living expenses in San Jose, he estimated that he could save between $5,000 and $6,000 a month from the proposed compensation which means a total savings of $60,000-$72,000 (58 lakh to 69 lakh)

His personal circumstances also formed part of his calculation. With no children or loans and his wife working part-time, he said he was assessing whether this stage of his life offered a suitable opportunity to explore working and living in the US.

Reddit divided over whether US move makes financial sense

The discussion on Reddit produced sharply different views.

Some users advised him to remain in Bengaluru, arguing that the $300,000 compensation should not automatically be viewed as a better financial proposition than a Rs 90 lakh salary once US taxes and living expenses are considered. Some described the proposed move as effectively a pay cut when the overall cost of living was factored in.

The L-1 visa was another concern raised by users. They pointed out that his proposed transfer would be tied to his existing employer, making the consequences of losing his job different from those faced by an employee in India.

Other Reddit users took the opposite view. They argued that his circumstances, particularly the absence of children and loans, made this a relatively low-risk point in his life to experience the US, explore a different work culture and pursue potential business and career opportunities.

Some users said that even if the move did not work out, he could return to India with savings earned in dollars. Others shared experiences of making similar moves and said they had not regretted the decision.

What is an L-1 visa?

The L-1 is a US work visa that allows a company to transfer an eligible employee from an overseas office to a related US office. The visa is subject to maximum stay limits and specific eligibility requirements.

Under current regulations, an L-1 worker whose employment ends can generally receive a grace period of up to 60 days, or until the end of the worker's existing authorised stay, whichever comes first.

Unlike an H-1B worker, an L-1 holder cannot ordinarily transfer the visa directly to an unrelated US employer. A prospective new employer would generally need to have the required qualifying relationship with a foreign entity, and the employee would independently have to meet the L-1 requirements.

As a result, in many situations where an L-1 worker loses employment, the individual may need to qualify for another visa category or leave the US.

The Bengaluru professional's dilemma therefore extends beyond comparing a Rs 90 lakh salary with a $300,000 offer. His decision also involves career progression, household circumstances, living costs and the employment limitations associated with an L-1 transfer.