The great urban holidaying is slowly turning into the great urban escape. For years, Europe has been a dream holiday destination for many Indians, a place of cobblestoned streets, clean air, efficient transport, and that elusive sense of calm missing from our crowded cities. But increasingly, vacations are not enough. Many young professionals now want more than a fleeting glimpse; they want to live it.
A growing number of Indians are deciding to pack up their lives and move abroad, trading the familiar chaos of Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Delhi for the ordered pace of cities like London, Vienna, or Berlin. Take, for example, a young couple who, in August 2024, left Bengaluru to start a new life in London. Among the destinations they considered, London ticked all the boxes: plenty of opportunities in tech, good pay (lower than the US but higher than many European hubs), and a clearer path to permanent residency or citizenship. And, perhaps most conveniently, they didn’t have to learn a new language.
The First Reality Check: Housing
But London, consistently ranked among the world’s 10 most expensive cities, demands its share of adjustments. Housing was the first reality check for the couple. They now live in a 600-square-foot one-bedroom apartment, a far cry from the 1,600-square-foot, three-bedroom home they left in Bengaluru. Rent and utilities take up nearly 25% of their combined income, and for single earners, it can rise to half their take-home pay.
Yet, despite the pinch, they insist it doesn’t feel like a downgrade. Modern European apartments make efficient use of space, and with parks, cafes, and cultural hubs all around, life spills out of the walls. “We spend a lot of our time outdoors since there’s so much to do in the city,” they said. It’s a trade-off that many expats find worthwhile: a smaller flat, but a bigger life.
Career and Income: A Balanced Equation
Career opportunities in London are another major draw. Both the couple work in tech firms, and the visa system in the UK makes finding work easier than in some other countries. The UK Global Talent Visa, for instance, allows highly skilled professionals to live and work in the country without a pre-existing job offer. Dependents, like the wife in this couple’s case, can accompany the primary visa holder.
While London isn’t cheap, salaries here compensate for the high cost of living. Average Indian salaries, even in top-paying sectors, are still less than half of what one could earn in the UK. And while tech and finance offer the most opportunities for expats, fields like marketing and sales may be trickier due to local preference. The couple emphasized that despite the higher living costs, their savings rate has remained largely unchanged.
“Our earnings increased in line with expenses, so we can maintain a lifestyle similar to what we had in Bengaluru which was already a bit extravagant,” they said. Higher salaries make not only everyday living but also indulgences like European holidays and luxury cars more feasible.
More Than Just Rent, What Are the Perks?
Rent aside, day-to-day expenses are higher in London. Groceries, transport, and dining out cost roughly 1.5x to 2x compared to their life in India. Yet, the couple finds this manageable. Back in Bengaluru, they lived in Indiranagar, an upscale neighbourhood, and frequently dined out. In London, while prices are higher, the convenience and quality of services help soften the financial blow.
Long weekends exploring Europe are an added perk. Flights are often short and affordable, and train journeys, like London to Paris, can take as little as two hours. For them, spending in pounds across Europe also avoids the disadvantages of converting from a weaker currency like the INR to the Euro, making holidays more accessible.
Luxury purchases, particularly cars, also feel more attainable. “A premium car here costs nearly half of what it would in India,” they noted. The used car market in the UK is large and normalized, unlike India where driving a pre-owned luxury car often carries social stigma.
Taxes and Social Security, Paying for Peace of Mind
Taxes in Europe can be steep. The couple pays an effective tax of 30–35%, but they view it as an investment rather than a burden. A significant portion of their contributions goes toward National Insurance, which covers state pensions and healthcare through the UK’s publicly funded National Health Service (NHS). The NHS provides free outpatient visits, hospital care, and emergency services.
Beyond healthcare, social security includes unemployment and disability benefits. If necessary, the state pays a fixed monthly allowance, depending on contributions, for up to six months. “We haven’t had to use these benefits, but it’s comforting to know they’re there,” they said.
European countries also offer tax-saving mechanisms for expats. Examples include exemptions on foreign assets for the first few years and relief for income earned abroad. For instance, remote work from India for a month or two can be tax-free in the UK under certain conditions. Additionally, up to £20,000 invested in an Individual Savings Account (ISA) can earn dividends, gains, or interest tax-free, creating opportunities for long-term wealth building.
Investments: Diversified and Global
The couple has been deliberate in diversifying their investments. After covering essentials, they save about 40% of household income – 20% as liquid savings and 20% invested across India and the US. About 60% of their portfolio is in India, primarily debt and large-cap funds, with a small allocation to stocks and crypto. The remaining 40% is invested globally, with a mix of index ETFs, blue-chip US stocks, and some exposure to emerging sectors.
This global diversification has paid off. Returns from the Indian portfolio average around 16% over three years, while global investments have delivered about 24%, boosted by strategic moves during market downturns like the 2020 crash.
Housing Dreams, Buying Into the New Life
Despite higher rents, the couple plans to buy a home in London. Prices range significantly depending on location: an independent house an hour outside the city may cost £300,000, while properties closer to the center start at £600,000 and can climb past £1.5 million. Mortgage rates of 3–4% make loans feasible, with monthly payments roughly equivalent to rent over a 25–30 year term.
Buying a home represents not just an investment but a deeper commitment to their new life abroad. They aren’t planning to return to India anytime soon. Though the wife occasionally dreams of a dual life, summers in London, winters in Bengaluru, the couple agrees that life in London feels like an extended holiday, only now with stability and a routine.
The Wider Perspective: What Others Are Saying
The story isn’t just about this couple. Another Indian-born content creator based in Vienna states how moving to Europe forced him to unlearn old habits and embrace a more refined lifestyle. He emphasized Europe’s work-life balance, safety, clean urban spaces, efficient transport, and accessible social services – benefits that are still sporadic in most Indian cities.
Meanwhile, a viral Reddit post from Bengaluru reflects the frustrations many feel at home: high taxes with little visible return, crumbling infrastructure, chronic pollution, long commutes, and a general sense that the system is not designed to support working professionals. “I genuinely want to contribute to this country,” the poster wrote, “but every rupee we pay in taxes seems to end up in the pockets of politicians.”
Together, these stories illustrate a trend: for India’s emerging middle class, Europe offers something that money alone can’t buy in their home country — reliability, predictability, and dignity in daily life.
The Last Bit
Europe’s appeal is not merely financial; it’s experiential. Higher salaries, yes, but also cleaner air, better public systems, safer streets, and structured work-life balance. Indians moving abroad aren’t just chasing paychecks, they’re seeking a life where the basics are secure, the system works, and small everyday frustrations don’t dictate happiness.
Therefore at the very root, the great urban escape isn’t just a migration story but a reflection of India’s gaps in urban infrastructure, social security, and public service delivery, and a reminder that talent will always follow opportunity and increasingly, opportunity now includes dignity and quality of life. For those still dreaming of Europe as a holiday, perhaps it’s time to think bigger, because for many, vacations are no longer enough. They want to live it for the many advantages it offers.
