‘Best decision of my life’: Entrepreneur shares why he left the US after 15 years to return to India, and doesn’t regret it

A social media post by an Indian professional who returned to India after working 15 years in the US has ignited a debate on social media. The post reflects on the personal and professional differences between life in India and the US, and why he felt that coming back was the right choice. As per the Reddit post, he said that coming back to India 'was one of the best decisions for me and my family.'

Returning after 15 years abroad

The user shared that he came back to India in 2019, at a time when friends and family warned that leaving the US could be risky. Many suggested that he might regret the decision, given the comfort and stability associated with life in America. But he wrote that more than four years later, he has not felt the urge to move back. Instead, he believes the decision has been beneficial for both him and his family.

He explained that one of his reasons for returning was that the option of going back to the US was always open if things did not work out in India. However, he has not felt the need to consider that since his return.

Rising living cost in US, dynamic life in India

Reflecting on the differences, he wrote that life in the US was comfortable but at times felt repetitive and monotonous. In contrast, he finds India to be more dynamic, with new challenges, opportunities, and experiences emerging almost every day.

Another factor that influenced his decision was the rising cost of living in the US. He mentioned how rents, healthcare, and daily expenses continue to increase, reducing the ability to save. While India also faces inflation, he believes the environment here allows greater flexibility to build something of one’s own.

He added that the entry barriers for entrepreneurship in India are lower compared to the US. Whether it is a small business, a consultancy, or a startup, he feels that the ecosystem today supports such efforts better than before.

On family life, he shared that schools in India have improved considerably over the last decade. While he acknowledged that no education system is perfect, he said he is satisfied with the exposure and opportunities his children are receiving in India.

A sense of freedom in India

Interestingly, he also wrote that he feels more personally free in India. In the US, he sometimes felt a subtle pressure to “fit in” socially and culturally. In India, he does not feel judged in the same way and does not sense the negativity that he occasionally experienced abroad.

The Reddit post, however, did not ignore the challenges. He admitted that traffic remains frustrating, bureaucracy can slow things down, and corruption continues to be an issue. But he felt that these trade-offs are worth managing compared to the stress of rising expenses and limited savings in the US. Since moving back, he said he has started his own startup in India and described the journey so far as positive.