Photo via u/3rdworldworker/Reddit
February 10, 2022, 2:28 pm
A viral post on the “Antiwork” Reddit forum caught attention for explaining how the subreddit changed the mind of someone living in India about moving to the U.S. to obtain their Master’s degree and beginning work in what it somehow still referred to as a “first world” nation.
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The OP, who used a throwaway account to protect their identity, says that many people in India, considered a “third world” or “developing” nation, fantasize about moving to America because apparently there’s still a perception out there that it’s a magical land of opportunity for everyone.
“I live in India which is a ‘3rd world country’ according to Western Media,” they wrote. “People in India always dream about moving to the US and working there because we have an idea that there is no possible better life. A few of my friends who have emigrated have told me how everyone outside thinks India is an absolute s–thole and no one would ever want to come here.”
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The reasons that they’re reconsidering the idea of moving to the U.S. comes down to pure numbers. They make what would be considered a low income in the U.S.—$28,000 per year
—though it’s nearly twice the yearly earnings of someone working 40 hours per week at the federal U.S. minimum wage, assuming they don’t take any unpaid time off. However, the benefits offered to those working in India would make many lower-income workers in the U.S. weep.“I’m paid $28K base per year with covered insurance and pension (after currency conversion),” they explained.
“I get 15 days Paid leave, 12 days of sick leave (Need a doctors note for 3 or more days consecutive), and 6 national holidays + 4 individual specific religious holidays (This is because India has millions of religions so people need to take different days off).”
Not only that, but they work from home most days with a company-provided laptop.
Meanwhile, the cost of living in India will make you wonder what the hell went wrong over here.
“Now this doesn’t seem much but my living expenses are so ridiculously low – $320 per month rent and another $30-$40 in utilities.”
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“If I’m needed to come into the office (Which happens ~5 days a month) Uber cost [sic] $1.50 one way so around $15 for transportation for the month and I spend around $130 on food for the entire month.”
The OP says that they live comfortably in India, but would struggle to live in the U.S., and they’re right. To afford a decent two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the U.S., someone needs to earn at least $14.60 at 40 hours per week — and that’s just to live in Arkansas. A $28,000 salary converts to about $13.46 an hour. And rent keeps going up, not to mention the price of food and other necessities as corporations hike these prices under the excuse of “inflation.”
Oh, also, India has healthcare.
“Also, healthcare can’t even be compared. I go for checkups for various things (General, dental etc) every 3-6 months because it costs barely anything. I’m 25 and fairly healthy without any co-morbidities so my out of pocket health expenditures are minimal. My father is a Type 1 diabetic and his insulin costs ~$75 per month.”
This is not the first viral social media post rejecting the idea that the U.S. is or ever was the “greatest nation on Earth.” Other Redditors shared stories of people moving to the U.S. to find it was not at all the utopia they were promised, with others encouraging the OP to stay in India.
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Others, however, pointed out that the OP makes a very high income compared to most people in India, so of course they’re well off where they are. Fellow India residents pushed back at the idea that their country is at all better for workers than the U.S. overall, listing their nation’s various clear issues.
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*First Published: February 10, 2022, 2:28 pm
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