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Comment by timthelion | Hacker News Reader

"the quality of life, while debatable, would be considered a downgrade for many who could potentially be poached from other regions". Why would it be a downgrade. If they paid an American $120k a year to live in Bangalore, that would buy the American a nice villa, pay for several servants, and allow for frequent travel. In SF, that same money gets you a shoe-box apartment.

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I guess you could also use that money to buy a diesel generator so you don't suffer from the daily power outages and you can buy a great water filtration system so you don't have to worry about ever drinking unclean water either.

Have you been to Bangalore?

I live in Bangalore and I'd say he's correct. Bangalore might be better compared to other Indian cities, but nowhere near the level of a American city. There are issues with power outages, water quality/shortage, absurd traffic jams where you'll be stranded for hours, costly real estate and even rent.

Much of Bangalore and modern Indian cities are almost at par with San Francisco as far as Infrastructure goes. How do I know this? I travel to India 3 times a year for work.

Sorry you are so wrong. What do you consider infrastructure? I have lived in the bay area and in Bangalore, I have no idea how you can even compare them in terms of roads, city planning, utilities agencies, Civic agencies etc. I think the exchange rate of your country's currency allows you to stay at top tier places when you visit India, that's why you'd experience India differently than Indians.

Living in Prague, I visited the Bay Area recently. I've never felt more like I was in a 3rd world country. Not even when I was in the norther Czech Republic which is in REALLY bad shape. I mean, have you been to oakland? The place looks like a war zone.

>I think the exchange rate of your country's currency allows you to stay at top tier places when you visit India, that's why you'd experience India differently than Indians.

Which is exactly what he was saying.

I would agree with you if you would have compared Austin to Bangalore. But the fact is : San Francisco is in as terrible shape as Bangalore is. So moving from San Francisco to Bangalore would not lower your quality of life at all.

Air quality is still a big issue too.

No problem, just walk around in a spacesuit. Technology really solves all problems! /s

In India don't the rich people just have tinted windows and air filters?

There's no way in hell they're paying the American $120k if they're working in India.

And, all the money in the world can't buy good air quality.

My point was, that they should pay westerners that kind of money to move there, in order to pull experience in. India has plenty of talent, but they don't have so much experience.

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