This Article was fact checked and last updated for accuracy on March 28, 2025 by Mani Karthik
Imagine you have two magical doors in front of you!
One door opens to a busy, buzzing city with tall buildings reaching to the sky and cars zooming everywhere!
The other door leads to a peaceful small town where you can hear birds singing and people know your name when you walk down the street.
Which door would YOU choose?
When I moved back to India from America, this was exactly my big question! My US-born son asked me, “Dad, will we live somewhere noisy or somewhere quiet?”
Let’s go on an adventure to find out which might be better for YOU!
Big City Magic: What Makes Metros Sparkle ✨
Metro cities in India are like giant playgrounds with lots of exciting things happening all at once!
| Metro Magic | What Makes It Special | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs & Money | More companies wanting to hire you! | “My friend Raj got three job offers in Bangalore in two weeks!” |
| Schools | Schools that feel like your schools abroad | “My son’s new school in Mumbai has kids from 12 different countries!” |
| Things to Do | Movies, malls, concerts, and food from around the world | “We found our favorite Japanese restaurant in Delhi!” |
| Airport Nearby | Easy to fly back to visit friends | “We can fly direct to Singapore from Hyderabad!” |
| Other NRIs | Friends who understand your journey | “Our apartment complex in Gurgaon has five other returned NRI families!” |
When my son first saw Bangalore, his eyes got super big: “Dad, it’s like America but with more colors and sounds!”
He was right! Big cities can feel a bit more familiar when you’re used to life abroad.
Small Town Treasures: The Hidden Gems 💎
Small towns and tier-2 cities are like cozy blanket forts where life moves at a gentler pace!
| Small Town Joy | What Makes It Special | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| More Space | Bigger homes with actual gardens! | “Our house in Mysore has mango trees in the backyard!” |
| Cleaner Air | Easier to breathe and see the stars | “In Kochi, my allergies disappeared in two weeks!” |
| Less Traffic | More time for fun, less time in cars | “My commute in Dehradun takes 15 minutes instead of 2 hours!” |
| Lower Costs | Your money stretches like super-elastic! | “Our beautiful 3-bedroom house in Pune costs less than our tiny apartment in Mumbai!” |
| Community Feel | People become like extended family | “In Vizag, our neighbors bring us homemade sweets every festival!” |
My cousin moved to Coimbatore while I chose Kochi. She told me: “The best part is my children play outside every evening with neighborhood kids, just like we did growing up!”
The Big Question: What Matters Most to YOU? 🤔
Just like choosing between chocolate and vanilla ice cream, the “better” choice depends on what makes YOUR heart happy!
If These Matter Most to You… Choose a METRO CITY! 🏙️
- Career Growth: If climbing the job ladder is super important
- International Schools: If your kids need specific education systems
- Modern Healthcare: If someone needs very specialized medical care
- Airport Connectivity: If you’ll travel internationally often
- Urban Conveniences: If food delivery at midnight matters to you!
My friend Anand moved to Chennai because his daughter needed a specific international school curriculum. “It was the only choice that made sense for her education,” he explained.
If These Matter Most to You… Choose a SMALL TOWN! 🏡
- Quality of Life: If fresh air and less stress top your list
- Housing Space: If a garden and room to breathe matter
- Cost of Living: If making your savings last longer is key
- Closer to Nature: If mountains, beaches or countryside call to you
- Slower Pace: If you’re tired of the rush-rush-rush lifestyle
When I chose Kochi over Bangalore, my tech friends thought I was crazy! But watching my son collect seashells on clean beaches made it all worth it.
Mixed Feelings: The In-Between Options 🌈
Some places give you a bit of both worlds – not too big, not too small!
| Just-Right Places | Why They’re Special | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Pune | Tech jobs + better air quality | Education and pleasant weather |
| Kochi | International feel + coastal charm | Seafood and cultural blend |
| Chandigarh | Planned city + cleaner environment | Beautiful parks and organization |
| Mysore | Heritage vibe + modern amenities | Palaces and yoga centers |
| Vizag | Beach city + developing tech hub | Coastline and navy presence |
My colleague chose Chandigarh after 15 years in Canada. “It gives us structure like abroad but with Indian heart,” she explained while sharing photos of her garden-facing apartment that cost one-third of what it would in Delhi!
Real NRI Family Stories: What Did They Choose? 📚
The Sharma Family: Metro Lovers
- Returned from: New Jersey to Bangalore
- Why metro: “Our tech careers needed the ecosystem of a major hub”
- Happiest about: “The international school where our kids met others like them”
- Miss about small towns: “The clean air and open spaces”
- Six years later: “Still happy with our choice, despite the traffic!”
The Thomas Family: Small Town Champions
- Returned from: London to Cochin
- Why small town: “Wanted our kids to grow up with nature and less pressure”
- Happiest about: “Our house with a garden costs what a tiny flat would in Mumbai”
- Miss about metros: “The international food options and cultural events”
- Five years later: “Would never trade our quality of life for a metro!”
The Patel Family: Found Middle Ground
- Returned from: Chicago to Pune
- Why middle ground: “Needed good schools but couldn’t handle Delhi pollution”
- Happiest about: “Found the sweet spot – tech jobs and cleaner air”
- Five years later: “Best decision ever – we get weekend getaways to Mumbai when we need city excitement!”
Special Considerations for Different NRI Families 👨👩👧👦
Your perfect door depends on your special family recipe!
| If You Have… | Metro Advantage | Small Town Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Young Kids | More activity options and international schools | Safer outdoor play areas and community feeling |
| Teenagers | Social opportunities and diverse friend groups | Less peer pressure and stronger family bonds |
| Aging Parents | Specialized healthcare facilities | Cleaner air and quieter environment |
| Work-From-Home Jobs | Great internet infrastructure | Lower costs and better work-life balance |
| Entrepreneurial Dreams | Bigger market and networking | Lower startup costs and unique opportunities |
My brother-in-law worked remotely for his US company from Pondicherry – a small coastal town. “I earn a US-comparable salary while living in paradise,” he shared. His home office overlooking the sea would have cost millions in a metro!
The Secret Truth No One Tells You 🤫
Here’s something I discovered after six years back in India:
The place matters less than your attitude!
My neighbor in Kochi moved from San Francisco and loves it. Another neighbor moved from London and complains daily.
Same place. Different mindsets!
The happiest returned NRIs I know share these qualities:
- They embrace change instead of fighting it
- They look for the good rather than comparing to abroad
- They build new social circles quickly
- They adjust expectations realistically
- They find purpose beyond just comfort
My son taught me this wisdom! One day when I complained about a power cut, he said: “But Dad, when lights go out, we get to see more stars!”
Out of the mouths of babes!
Three Big Ideas to Remember! 🌈
- Metro cities offer more career opportunities and international amenities, but come with higher costs, pollution, and stress.
- Small towns provide better quality of life, lower costs, and stronger communities, but may have fewer job options and international connections.
- The happiest choice depends on YOUR family’s unique priorities – what brings YOU joy matters more than what others choose!
When we first moved back, my US-born son missed his American friends terribly. One evening in Kochi, playing cricket with neighborhood kids as the sun set over coconut trees, he turned to me and said:
“Dad, I think my heart is growing bigger to fit both my American memories AND my new Indian adventures!”
And isn’t that what coming home is really about?
What matters most to YOUR family? Are you leaning toward metro excitement or small town charm? Let me know your situation, and I can share more specific thoughts for your journey home!