‘Good air, safety, better health’: Why Delhi woman chose Rs 1.3 crore London salary over Rs 50 lakh in India

A Delhi woman living in London has sparked an online discussion after saying she would pick a £100,000(approximately Rs1.3 crore) salary in the UK capital over earning Rs 50 lakh a year in Delhi. While she misses the convenience, family support and familiar comforts she had in India, she said better air quality, safety, work-life balance, walkability and improved health make London the better choice for her.

Jasleen Kaur shared her view on Instagram after being asked through a direct message to choose between the two salary packages. Rather than looking only at the difference in earnings, she compared the broader quality-of-life factors attached to each option.

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A post shared by Jasleen Kaur (@layers_of_law)

‘That’s a tough question’

Kaur admitted that deciding between the two salaries was not straightforward because of what she misses about living in India.

“£100k in London or Rs 50 LPA in Delhi? Somebody asked me this in my DMs last week, and I went into a spiral because, well, that's a tough question,” she said.

She recalled having several conveniences readily available in Delhi, including quick-commerce deliveries, domestic help and a personal car. She also said she did not have to depend on public transport there and missed having her family nearby.

“I do miss the comfort and the convenience, and of course my family, um back in India. I had everything at my fingertips, I had Blinkit, I had house helps, I had uh my car, I did not have to use public transport and everything,” she said.

Why London wins for her

Despite those conveniences, Kaur said London offers benefits she believes are more difficult to obtain in Delhi.

“But London gives me something that I don't think can be found anywhere in Delhi. That's the good air quality, that's safety,” she said.

She added that living in London means she feels more comfortable going outside without worrying as much about how she is perceived.

“I don't have to think twice about stepping out and if I'm wearing enough layers, enough clothes, I don't have to see how people are looking at me,” Kaur said.

She also pointed to her work-life balance, support system and the fact that she lives in a city where many places can be reached on foot.

“I have a good work-life balance, I have a good support system, I am living in a walkable city, my health has improved so much. So, I think the choice is clear,” she said.

Salary is not the only factor in her decision

Kaur’s comparison highlights the wider considerations that can influence decisions about living in India or moving abroad. Although she described Delhi as offering familiarity and everyday convenience through family, domestic help, private transport and quick delivery services, she said some aspects of life in London matter more to her than the headline salary alone.

Her argument centres on what she gains and gives up when choosing one city over the other, rather than suggesting that one salary package is universally better.

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‘You barter things for yourself’

Kaur also reflected on those trade-offs in the caption accompanying her video.

“When you move abroad, you barter things for yourself. A big pay check for comfort. Air quality for car. Quality of life with quality time with family. Are these barters worth it? Maybe, maybe not. But right now, this is the choice I have made,” she wrote.

Her post has prompted discussion around how people evaluate overseas opportunities, particularly when comparing salaries without taking into account factors such as safety, family proximity, convenience, work-life balance and health.

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