A Canada-based NRI who has been away from India for almost 17 years is planning his return. He is now married with children and has the facility to work remotely. He finds himself at a crossroads, trying to choose between two charming tier-2 cities in India for his family’s next home. He currently earns a salary of around $300,000 and is contemplating a move to either Kochi or Mysore. Despite his success and comfort in Canada, he has always wanted to return to his roots in India.
Having grown up in Kolkata, the expat has the opportunity to move to the city. However, he is deeply concerned about the environmental impact on his family due to Kolkata’s increasing pollution. “The pollution in Kolkata is unbearable, and it’s even worse for my little kids,” he shared. “I want to go back to India, but I need a place that is peaceful, with enough green spaces and a healthy environment for my family.” Both Kochi and Mysore have impressed the family during past visits, with their blend of tranquillity and modern amenities, but the expat acknowledges that “visiting and living there are completely different things.”
Kochi is in the southern part of India. The city is also experiencing rapid growth, with an increasing number of expat professionals making it their home. However, he is afraid if the city could provide the right kind of education and exposure to his children. The slower pace of life and rich historical and cultural background of Mysore, on the other hand, make it one of India’s cleanest and most tranquil towns.
He is clear about the fact that he wants to live with his family in a green, peaceful environment, a good school system with exposure to diverse experiences, and enough space for his children to grow in a healthy, stimulating atmosphere. Compensation adjustments would see him earning between 60 and 70 per cent of his present wage because his remote job option allows him to be location independent, but he feels the trade-off is worthwhile for the standard of living he hopes to provide for his family.
“Settle in the hills”
Netizens poured in their opinions on the post. A user said, “Settle down in hills in Eastern part of INDIA may be Asaam also it’s nearby to yours and your wife home so you NVS make frequent visit, no pollution issue and I think colleges will also be good. Plus you might already be Canadian citizen so you can send your kids to college in US/Canada as well.” Another noted, “Pick a peaceful town in WB with less pollution. Air and noise pollution is in every city. You need to work hard to create your bubble, much easier in your home state than a new place. Does your family speak Telugu for Hyd or Kannada for Mysore? Are you ok with kids needing to study these local languages?.
A netizen opined, “It might seem like an odd choice, but do look into Indore if you can. It has world-class healthcare infrastructure, great schools, and amazing food. There’s also a thriving Bengali community. The city is relatively clean and is developing into a regional tech hub maybe it grows like Pune or Hyderabad over the next 10–15 years. Your kids would have plenty of opportunities growing up there. I am assuming you already speak hindi so you won’t really have a problem. Lacks cultural activities but you can always go to other cities as it is well connected. The infrastructure is actually not bad.”
“Try Bengaluru or Hyderabad if you want exposure for your kids. I think Bengaluru is still good because there are lot foreign returned people who admit their kids in international schools and the kids also get to study in the same curriculum as they did in the US, although it would be IB mostly in India. There are green living spaces in Bengaluru and with the kind of money that you are earning, it’s easier to settle down in one of them and still feel you are in a green space with parks and gardens and foreign returned people to talk to and have a social group,” wrote a user. “Mysore sounds perfect . Access to nearly places and cost and quality of life is much better compared to metro,” noted a user.