September 22, 13:29Aaj Tak

Kolkata resident shares Dubai life experience: expenses make saving difficult

For many young people living in India, working abroad, especially in places like Dubai, is a cherished dream because such places promise good salaries and employment. However, the experience of Rahul Bali, a resident of Kolkata, shows the other side of this dream. He shared a video on Instagram stating that after moving to Dubai, he started thinking that 'it would have been better to stay in India.'

Rahul admitted that although the dream of working abroad was realized, upon arriving in Dubai, he realized the level of daily expenses. He advised those planning to work abroad not to make decisions based solely on the conversion of salary into Indian rupees.

In his video, Rahul emphasized that while moving from India was fulfilling a dream, he discovered that India is very good. He highlighted the rising cost of living in Dubai, pointing out that constant spending on food, water, and other necessities creates difficulties for the average person trying to regularly save significant amounts.

He gave an example regarding food: one ordinary meal can cost no less than 10 dirhams, which is equivalent to approximately 260 rupees. Such small daily expenses accumulate into a large sum over a month.

To illustrate his point, Rahul used a salary example. He noted that an amount of 2500 dirhams in Dubai corresponds to approximately 70 thousand Indian rupees. Nevertheless, after deducting all living expenses in Dubai, it is impossible to save the entire amount. According to Rahul's example, about 1500 dirhams remain after covering all needs.

This is why he believes that assessing a foreign salary only through Indian rupees gives a distorted picture; the cost of living and the savings potential in the host country must also be taken into account.

In his video, Rahul also expressed that despite Dubai being his dream destination, life there helped him understand the importance of many aspects of India. He concluded that 'living in Dubai is not easy.'

According to Rahul's profile, he works as a chef. His video attracted the attention of Instagram users who actively reacted to his story. It should be noted, however, that the figures and expenses stated by Rahul are only his personal experiences and examples, as salaries, living conditions, rent, and expenses can vary greatly for each person in Dubai.

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www.aajtak.inSeptember 9, 14:19

Indian woman shares cost of living in Thailand: it turned out to be cheaper than in some Indian cities

Many Indians dream of living abroad from childhood, and the first question that arises for them is the cost of living in another country. It is usually assumed that life in another country will be significantly more expensive than in India, but one Indian woman surprised people by sharing a detailed calculation of her monthly expenses in Thailand.

She stated that life in Thailand seemed more affordable to her than in her hometown of Mumbai. After her video appeared on social media, users actively discussed this topic. Below is a detailed overview of her monthly spending in Thailand.

Cost of living in Thailand per month

Roop Verma, an Indian lawyer and company secretary, travels constantly. She published a video on Instagram detailing her total expenses for a month spent in Thailand. Roop previously lived in Mumbai, but after starting to travel, she began living in different places, gaining experience in work and leisure.

Roop rented an apartment in a luxurious high-rise complex located directly opposite the beach. She rented this apartment for one month. The cost of renting the apartment for a month was about 45,000 Indian rupees. It is important to note that this amount included many amenities such as a seaside clubhouse, a swimming pool, and a gym, which were provided without extra charges.

Additionally, a grocery market and a 24-hour 7-Eleven store were located near her apartment, accessible by walking.

Spending on food and transportation

According to her, expenses for groceries and dining out amounted to approximately 19,000 Indian rupees. For transportation, she used ride-hailing services and spent about 700 rupees for the entire month.

In addition, a significant amount was spent on what she called non-essential expenses, including dinners with friends, spa treatments in the building, evening outings, and other lifestyle activities, which cost about 38,000 rupees.

Why life in Thailand turned out to be cheaper than in Mumbai

Summing up all these expenses, Roop's total costs in Thailand for one month amounted to approximately 109,000 Indian rupees. The most surprising thing was that despite these expenditures, she felt that life there was significantly cheaper than in Mumbai. She added that if she shared these expenses with her partner, many of them could be halved. Her statement attracted the attention of social media users.

Social media user reactions

Following the viral spread of Roop's video, many users began comparing the cost of living in Thailand with Mumbai. Some noted that with such amenities, these expenses are indeed lower than in Mumbai. Another user jokingly said that he now also wanted to pack his bags.

However, it should be noted that the actual cost of living in another city or country heavily depends on a person's lifestyle, place of residence, and duration of stay. Roop's expenses are based on her personal experience, so they cannot be considered a fixed cost of living in Thailand for everyone.