Redditor reveals harsh truth behind ‘glamourous’ NRI life: ‘Surviving on instant noodles’
An NRI’s post about harsh life while staying abroad has sparked a discussion about whether leaving India to settle in another country is worth it.
An Indian expat's Reddit post about the reality of living abroad is striking a chord online. The post offers a candid look at the not-so-glamorous side of the life of an NRI.

“Every time I tell my friends back home I live abroad, they think I'm living in a mansion,” the Reddit user wrote.
“Why does everyone back home assume that being an NRI means I’m rolling in money and living in some luxurious palace?” the individual continued, adding, “I’m just here in a tiny apartment, surviving on instant noodles and pretending I know what ‘adulting’ means.”
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The person asks other NRIs if they have ever faced a similar situation. “Do you guys get this too, or am I just the only one living the glamorous NRI life?”
What did social media say?
An individual shared, “It's not your fault, mate! We Indians like to brag and set unrealistic expectations in front of relatives and friends. I know someone who drives a garbage truck here in Australia, but a Mustang GT. Everyone thinks he’s incredibly successful by looking at IG stories and posts.”
Another added, “Story of every NRI. Only other NRIs know the reality. Everyone else in India thinks wah bhai, you’ve made it.” A third commented, “This is not their fault. Your predecessor NRIs have set that trend by misleading their friends back home. Chances are that you will follow the footsteps of your predecessors, too.”
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A fourth wrote, “It is the different effect of Indian movies projecting about NRI lives like red carpet mansion, Ferrari driving, songs singing and dancing with all-branded clothes at tourist spots. Also, our own predecessors or our generation show off when visiting our homeland. Also, social media projecting our so-called fun NRI lives, all fun and no work, lol.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORTrisha SenguptaTrisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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