‘I have the choice to leave’: Gurgaon founder says no other Indian city offers him the same mix of lifestyle and earning opportunities; sparks debate

A Gurgaon-based startup founder has sparked a discussion on quality of life in Indian cities after saying he has the option to move elsewhere but has not found another Indian city that offers him a better combination of lifestyle and earning opportunities.

Deepak Abbot, co-founder of Indiagold, shared his views on X in response to a user who questioned why highly paid professionals continue to choose Gurgaon as their place to live.

“I’ve been living in Gurgaon for 8 years now. I HAVE the choice to leave, but I can’t think of another Indian city that would give me any better quality of life while offering me the same earning opportunities,” Abbot wrote.


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‘No Indian city is truly livable’

Abbot said he does not consider any Indian city to be “truly livable”, arguing that residents often create comfortable environments within the cities they choose and learn to accept their shortcomings.

“No Indian city is truly ‘livable’. We create our own bubbles of comfort and make peace with the rest,” he wrote.

He said he had followed the same approach while living in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad over the previous 20 years before moving to Gurgaon.

“I did that while living in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad for last 20 years before moving to Gurgaon,” Abbot wrote.

He also advised people against constantly complaining about the city they live in, saying this could ultimately affect their own quality of life. “If you spend every day cribbing about the city you live in, eventually you’re just making your own life miserable. Find what works for you,” he wrote.

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Gurgaon debate draws mixed reactions

Abbot’s comments prompted a range of reactions on X, with users offering different views on Gurgaon and other Indian cities.

One user agreed with Abbot, writing, “100%. Both you and me have lived in major metros. The quality of life, lifestyle and sheer value that Gurgaon offers is unmatched. It surely has its issues but in India, it's the best. Especially DLF5. I know no other place like it.”

Another user took a humorous approach, writing, “Have been living in Jhumri Telaya all along. Beautiful, serene place. Anyone waiting to migrate there?”

A third user disagreed with the idea that Gurgaon offers the best quality of life, pointing to the Chandigarh tri-city region. “Wrong, check tricity, Chandigarh Panchkula, far better organized and much better lifestyle then even many European cities, AQI is <40 for most of the year,” the user wrote.

Another response listed several problems associated with urban life, including “dust everywhere, broken pavements, potholes & broken roads, open garbage burning, waste lying on every road,” along with high AQI, waterlogged roads during the monsoon, long power outages and dependence on DG sets and water tankers.

One user described Indian cities as having widespread problems, writing, “Absolutely true! People talk as if there are other real alternatives. All cities are cluster ducked.”

Another user said Chandigarh was the best city to live in, while acknowledging that it offers fewer opportunities and less growth than larger cities. The user also referred to the “small city syndrome”, arguing that people based in smaller cities can sometimes face disadvantages despite working as much as those in major metros.

A separate response took a broader view, saying every city has flaws and that quality of life ultimately depends on factors including family, work, friends, schools and lifestyle.

The user also noted that much of the working class does not have the privilege of choosing where to live, adding that those who do have that choice can live wherever they are comfortable.