Why living in India feels ‘richer’ for foreigners: US influencer explains purchasing power parity in viral video

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The US influencer acknowledged that average salaries are much higher in the United States but pointed out that the cost of living is also significantly higher (Representative image/Pexels)Kristen Fischer, an American content creator based in New Delhi, has gone viral for breaking down why living in India feels more affordable and value-rich for many foreigners. Known for her videos documenting life in India, Fischer explained the concept of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), a metric that compares the buying power of different currencies after adjusting for cost-of-living differences across countries.In the video, Fischer says, “$10 in the US might get you a simple meal, but the equivalent of $10 (Rs 800) in India could buy you several meals.” Highlighting how everyday expenses stretch further in India, she added, “A haircut costing Rs 100 in India is equivalent to $40 in the US, meaning you could get 34 haircuts in India for the price of one in the US.”While acknowledging that salaries in the United States are generally higher, Fischer pointed out that so is the cost of living. “Sure, incomes are higher in the USA, but everything costs more there, too. And yes, I know incomes in India are much lower, but so are the costs of goods and services,” she noted.Sharing the video, Fischer wrote: “Too many responses about purchasing power made me make this video to explain it. Rupees in India stretch further than the relative dollars do in the USA.”Watch the viral video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kristen Fischer (@kristenfischer3)Also Read | Top 10 countries where kids are the happiest: Netherlands, Denmark lead in global happiness rankingsSeveral social media users appreciated Fischer’s insights on the topic. “A truly enlightening explanation—beautifully articulated,” a user wrote. “We never bought anything premium in US while in India we buy the best always,” another user commented.“Good. Very neatly explained. That is the purchase power of India,” a third user reacted. “So basically EARN in dollars and SPEND in ruppees is best way to live life,” a fourth user said.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:indian rupeessocial media virals