38-year-old Astha Chaturvedi, a startup founder, relocated to Bengaluru with her family, including a child and a pet, leaving behind San Francisco, and now feels she made the right decision. In an interview with Business Insider, Chaturvedi revealed that the choice to return to India was sudden, triggered by a trip to India in 2024 to hire a CTO for her startup. She and her husband had lived in the US for 15 years, owning property and considered 'settled' there.
Why She Chose to Move
During her visit to India for her startup, Chaturvedi experienced Bengaluru's startup culture, prompting her to consider opening an office in India. 'We'd spent about 15 years building our lives in the US, but there was still no clear path to permanence. My husband and I were both waiting for green cards, and the backlog felt endless. His place in line dated back to 2015, while mine was from 2020,' she explained. Chaturvedi had been on an H-1B visa but switched to an H-4 visa to launch her own company.
Adjusting to Indian Work Culture
Initially apprehensive about India's work culture, she soon realized she could control it as her own boss. The family moved from San Francisco to Bengaluru between February and April this year, now owning a $1 million apartment in Bengaluru. 'It's tricky to compare the cost of living. India isn't cheap if you want a premium lifestyle. In fact, quality goods like furniture and electronics can be more expensive than in the US. But healthcare and household help are much cheaper, so I've found that it balances out. Bengaluru is a costly city, but that's because we budget for a top-end lifestyle,' Chaturvedi noted.
Life in Bengaluru
'Traffic in Bengaluru is a pain, so we've chosen to hire a full-time driver to get around. What I don't miss are chores. Bottom line: We've made up for the chaos by investing in support systems,' she said. Chaturvedi added that her daughter has settled into her new school, their pet is adjusting to India, and they believe moving back was the right choice. 'Culturally, I don't feel a gap at all. India feels more vibrant than the US,' she concluded.
