For decades, the United States has been the promised land for Indian IT professionals — a place where coding careers transformed into green cards and garage startups into Silicon Valley fortunes. But in 2025, the script is rapidly changing. Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik, a sharp observer of global financial patterns, offers a blunt diagnosis: “It’s more investment and less returns when someone wants to migrate to the US. That thing is not for everyone.”
Behind this shifting sentiment lies a staggering economic equation that no longer seems to favor the immigrant dreamer. Consider this: the average rent in the U.S. is now about $2,000. Financial analyst Sourav Dutta breaks it down with brutal clarity — tenants are expected to earn three times that amount, which means $6,000 a month or $72,000 annually. But here’s the kicker — the average American salary is just $51,000. “Average Americans can't rent an average house,” Dutta quips, echoing the growing chorus of disillusionment.
Sky-High Rents, Sinking Hopes
According to Zillow’s December 2024 data, the average rent for a single-family home stands at $2,174, with even multifamily units costing around $1,812. And in cities that attract the most Indian talent — San Francisco, New York, Seattle — these figures climb even higher. For H-1B professionals starting out on the minimum mandated salary of $60,000, survival in such metros often requires not just budgeting but sheer financial gymnastics.
The cost of housing is just the tip of the iceberg. Essentials like healthcare, childcare, and groceries are rising faster than inflation. Construction of new housing has slowed to a crawl, squeezed by steep tariffs on Canadian and Chinese building materials. Developers are backing off, inventory is shrinking, and rents are surging — all creating a perfect storm for anyone trying to build a life from scratch on foreign soil.
End of an Era for Indian IT Aspirants?
Once seen as the golden ticket to success, the H-1B visa is starting to lose its luster. CA Kaushik notes that Indian IT workers made the most of the opportunity over the last decade, but warns: “It’s coming to an end soon.” The prestige of a U.S. tech job now comes with caveats — burnout from high living costs, uncertain immigration outcomes, and delayed dreams of financial freedom or home ownership.
For many, the dream of sending dollars back home or retiring early with a plush nest egg is beginning to fray. Instead, they find themselves caught in a relentless cycle of rent payments, expensive schooling, and mounting health insurance premiums.
The Fine Print Back Home Isn’t Pretty Either
Ironically, according to Business Today, even those thinking of returning or investing in India face another set of challenges. Kaushik, doubling as a cautionary voice, warns prospective homebuyers in India to be equally vigilant. “These are big commitments. Don’t just look at the emotional side — do the math,” he says, urging them to factor in hidden costs like stamp duty, maintenance, and loan interest that often balloon over time.
A Cautionary Tale for the Next Generation
The great Indian dream of making it big in America is undergoing a quiet, yet profound transformation. For a new generation of techies, the allure of the West is no longer a one-way ticket to prosperity, but a nuanced decision fraught with financial complexity and personal trade-offs.
As the global economy recalibrates and the cost of living climbs ever higher, the once-bright beacon of the American dream is beginning to flicker. Whether this signals a short-term adjustment or a long-term shift remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: the road to success is no longer paved with just ambition and a visa. It demands strategy, sacrifice, and a sharp eye on the spreadsheet.
Behind this shifting sentiment lies a staggering economic equation that no longer seems to favor the immigrant dreamer. Consider this: the average rent in the U.S. is now about $2,000. Financial analyst Sourav Dutta breaks it down with brutal clarity — tenants are expected to earn three times that amount, which means $6,000 a month or $72,000 annually. But here’s the kicker — the average American salary is just $51,000. “Average Americans can't rent an average house,” Dutta quips, echoing the growing chorus of disillusionment.
that's why it's more investment and less returns when someone wants to migrate to US. That thing is not for everyone.
— CA Nitin Kaushik (@Finance_Bareek) April 15, 2025
IT employees used it well for last decade, but its coming to an end soon https://t.co/hcoTk91LwM
Sky-High Rents, Sinking Hopes
According to Zillow’s December 2024 data, the average rent for a single-family home stands at $2,174, with even multifamily units costing around $1,812. And in cities that attract the most Indian talent — San Francisco, New York, Seattle — these figures climb even higher. For H-1B professionals starting out on the minimum mandated salary of $60,000, survival in such metros often requires not just budgeting but sheer financial gymnastics.
The cost of housing is just the tip of the iceberg. Essentials like healthcare, childcare, and groceries are rising faster than inflation. Construction of new housing has slowed to a crawl, squeezed by steep tariffs on Canadian and Chinese building materials. Developers are backing off, inventory is shrinking, and rents are surging — all creating a perfect storm for anyone trying to build a life from scratch on foreign soil.
End of an Era for Indian IT Aspirants?
Once seen as the golden ticket to success, the H-1B visa is starting to lose its luster. CA Kaushik notes that Indian IT workers made the most of the opportunity over the last decade, but warns: “It’s coming to an end soon.” The prestige of a U.S. tech job now comes with caveats — burnout from high living costs, uncertain immigration outcomes, and delayed dreams of financial freedom or home ownership.
For many, the dream of sending dollars back home or retiring early with a plush nest egg is beginning to fray. Instead, they find themselves caught in a relentless cycle of rent payments, expensive schooling, and mounting health insurance premiums.
The Fine Print Back Home Isn’t Pretty Either
Ironically, according to Business Today, even those thinking of returning or investing in India face another set of challenges. Kaushik, doubling as a cautionary voice, warns prospective homebuyers in India to be equally vigilant. “These are big commitments. Don’t just look at the emotional side — do the math,” he says, urging them to factor in hidden costs like stamp duty, maintenance, and loan interest that often balloon over time.
A Cautionary Tale for the Next Generation
The great Indian dream of making it big in America is undergoing a quiet, yet profound transformation. For a new generation of techies, the allure of the West is no longer a one-way ticket to prosperity, but a nuanced decision fraught with financial complexity and personal trade-offs.
As the global economy recalibrates and the cost of living climbs ever higher, the once-bright beacon of the American dream is beginning to flicker. Whether this signals a short-term adjustment or a long-term shift remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: the road to success is no longer paved with just ambition and a visa. It demands strategy, sacrifice, and a sharp eye on the spreadsheet.
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