This NRI couple in Melbourne is looking to move back for family and higher affordability

livemint.com:

Poor roads, hazardous air quality, a lack of public infrastructure, and women’s safety issues drove Saurabh Arora and his wife Shubhangi Datta to leave India in 2022. Australia’s relatively lenient permanent residency rules and superior quality of life made it the perfect destination. But after just two years of living in Melbourne, the couple is already thinking about moving back.

While the quality of life in Melbourne is superior, it comes at a heavy price — both literally and metaphorically. “We miss family and the general lack of community the most. Australia is a lonely country. That’s the primary reason we want to move back," said Saurabh. “Also, the cost of living as a percentage of net income is higher compared to India’s. We end up spending about 80% of our household income here. Back in India, expenses were less than 30%, including rent," he added.

The drastic increase in the couple’s cost of living in proportion to their income is partly because their household income has decreased owing to a lack of career opportunities in Melbourne for Shubhangi, a human resources professional.

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“Shubhangi settled for a lower-paying job here as there weren’t many options for her. There are plenty of opportunities only in tech jobs, while in most other industries, employers give preference to those with local education and experience," Saurabh said. “We have downgraded our lifestyles and our savings have been hit, only to lead an unfulfilling life."

The couple spends more on everything in Melbourne than they did in India – from groceries to insurance and car maintenance – so they eat out less and take fewer holidays, Saurabh said. “For